Weathermen predict a sunny spell for Portsmouth

AccuWeather predicts steadily increasing temperatures throughout the area in the earlier parts of next week, potentially rising as high as 27C by Wednesday.

The RealFeel forecast, which takes into account several factors, such as wind, cloud cover and humidity, suggests that it will feel even hotter, with estimates as high as 29-30C.

At the Met Office, analyst Alex Burkill said it was still premature to call the temperature hike a heatwave but added that forecasts see much of Britain experiencing unusually warm weather.

Hot air from the south will push the weather above average for August - possibly topping the record for the year so far.

The mercury reached 33.5C in July at Brize Norton, and the Met Office expects temperatures in the low thirties near London on Monday and Tuesday.

Some predictions suggest that it’s possible that certain places might see record-breaking heat. Bookmakers Coral are offering odds of 2/1 that the UK’s highest temperature on record, 38.5C, will be surpassed this summer amid predictions that next week will at least top the hottest day of the year to date.

Though July witnessed peaks as high as 33C, cooler northwestern flows have decreased temperature below average for this time of year, according to the Met Office. That trend will turn at the start of next week, with Monday and Tuesday looking to be the warmest, before potential thunderstorms will bring them back down again.