The UK will soar to a brutal 38C within a couple of weeks, according to weather maps. WXCharts maps forecast that The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire and Berkshire will soar to the hottest temperatures on Wednesday July 23 at 3pm, with London just one degree lower at 37C.

The majority of the south is expected to see temperatures between 36C and 38C following the third predicted heatwave of the year, which is forecast to arrive this week. Parts of the coast will experience some respite on July 23, with a more bearable 31C in Cornwall and 30C in Norfolk.

However, the majority of England and Wales will sit well above 30C, except for northwest of both countries, which have been forecast for temperatures in the high 20s.

Scotland and Northern Ireland will experience a more pleasant day on July 23, with temperatures in the high 20s, although just south of Edinburgh could reach 30C.

The Met Office has also predicted "above average" temperatures in its long-range forecast from July 22 until August 5.

It wrote: "Temperatures are likely to end up above average overall with a continued, and perhaps higher than normal, chance of occasional hot spells or heatwaves, especially further to the southeast.

"However, around the turn of the month, there is a signal for perhaps more widely unsettled weather to develop, though the details of this remain rather uncertain."

The UK's hottest day of the year was recorded on July 1, with a temperature of 35.8C (96.4F) at Faversham, Kent, the BBC reported.

The UK's third heatwave of the summer is forecast to arrive later this week, and while the first two heatwaves impacted England most heavily, especially in the south and east, this time the heat is expected to extend into Northern Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.

Heat health alerts have been issued for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West, from Wednesday until July 15.