BY JOHN SHAMMAS From Daily Mirror UK

Heat so intense it will melt roads as southern parts expected to be frazzled- while parts of the north remain on flood alert

A road-melting heatwave is set to hit the UK this week – with warnings of a African “blowtorch” baking Britain hotter than the Caribbean.

The rainy start to this week will make way for dry, warm spells from Wednesday onwards, the Met Office forecast.

It’s being reported that the country is set to be split by the weather in a north-south divide as the south sizzles and parts of the north remain on flood alert.

Across the South East and East Anglia, temperatures could reach the low 30s on Wednesday and Thursday.

In the north of England it is expected to be cooler, with highs of 22C on Wednesday in Manchester.

British Weather Services forecaster Jim Dale said: “The heat will probably peak at 33C in the South-East.”

The cause of the unexpected heat will be Africa, explained a MeteoGroup forecaster.

“Exceptionally hot air from north-west Africa will move to Spain, with heat expected to expand into southern parts of the UK, with temperatures a little over 30C likely by Wednesday and Thursday.”

The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze added: “Forecast models show blowtorch heat, with temperatures expected to be in excess of 30C.”

Scotland will see temperatures reach 19C on Wednesday, while Wales will enjoy a warmer 23C on both Wednesday and Thursday.

In Northern Ireland, temperatures won’t go higher than 20C.

A Met Office forecaster said: “After early rain has cleared eastwards, today will be largely cloudy but mainly dry for most, apart from some rain across Wales and Northern England.

“Some warm sunshine will develop across eastern Scotland, eastern England and the far south later.

“Warm, dry weather spreading to all areas during Wednesday. However, thundery showers will arrive for some on Thursday.

“Friday will be drier, but less warm in the southeast than Thursday.”

The warm mid-week spell will see the UK enjoy hotter temperatures that sunny holiday destinations such as Barbados, where temperatures of 30C are forecast.

And Brits will be ready for a sunny spell after a muggy and gloomy weekend which saw the UK battered by gusts of up to 55mph and 20ft waves tumbling over sea defences, seeing several reported deaths.

IMAGES:
The hot air from north-west Africa will move to Spain in a plume on Wednesday and Thursday
Meg Forster, 9, from Gateshead, pictured surfing the waves and enjoying the sunny weather at Tynemouth beach
Ebony Forster, 4, from Gateshead enjoys the sunny weather
People enjoying the sunny weather at Tynemouth beach
Girls apply sun cream on the beach in Brighton
The Met Office weather map for Wednesday
A woman relaxes on the beach
People enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Brighton, East Sussex
The UK is set to be hotter than Barbados

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/african-blowtorch-set-make-britain-8681235