The Met Office has delivered its verdict on another potential heatwave as temperatures in the UK are set to hit a staggering 39C in the coming weeks, according to a separate forecast. In its forecast for the next two weeks, the weather agency said London could reach 30C on Friday, with daytime highs no lower than 25C from today until June 28.

This suggests a strong chance of an official heatwave - when 28C is recorded on three consecutive days - being declared in England's capital. The Met Office has forecast four consecutive days of 28C heat and above in London at the end of this week and around the last weekend of the month.

Met Office meteorologist Honour Criswick told The Press Association: "Throughout the week, things are heating up in the south and South East. We’ve got high pressure starting to build and there’s a warm plume moving up through continental Europe.

"Whether or not it’ll be a heatwave remains to be seen as there’s still a lot to play for, but things are certainly turning a lot warmer, if not maybe even hot, by the end of the week, although this is mostly confined to the South East.

"Other areas will warm up, but it’s also very humid so they are likely to be cloudy, with rain and showers. By Thursday, we’re looking at around 28C in London, so certainly pushing into the high 20s."

Separately, a map from Netweather has revealed that parts of England could reach a sweltering 39C on June 28.

The Met Office forecast for June 20 to 29 reads: "There is the possibility of some very warm and humid weather across parts of south and southeast Britain at the start of this period and perhaps the chance of a few thunderstorms too.

"Generally more changeable to the north and west at first, but there is a signal for high pressure to build more widely as we move towards the latter part of June.

"This likely brings more widely drier, settled conditions with temperatures probably remaining above average for most. It is still possible that Atlantic low pressure may still bring brief spells of wet and windy weather.

"There is a chance that the hot conditions, could return northwards accompanied by a thunderstorm risk; this all dependent on the orientation of the aforementioned high pressure."