Heatwave set to peak with 34C temperatures possible

The UK's third heatwave of the year is expected to peak on Saturday with temperatures soaring to a possible high of 34C.

The hottest temperatures are expected in the Midlands and south Wales, while Scotland and Northern Ireland could see their warmest days of the year so far - with highs of 31C and 29.5C.

Friday saw the mercury hit a high of 34.7C in Astwood Bank in the West Midlands, and Wales recorded its hottest day of the year as Usk hit 32.7C.

Amber heat health alerts remain in place for parts of England - where millions face a hosepipe ban - while wildfire warnings have been issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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Temperatures are expected to be widely in the high 20s to low 30s in England and Wales on Saturday, while the mercury could rise to 33C or 34C in south Wales.

Eastern parts of England will see slightly cooler temperatures thanks to an easterly breeze, but most areas will still meet heatwave thresholds.

Even places such as Scotland's Western Isles could see unusually high temperatures due to the widespread nature of the heatwave.

The 24C forecast in Stornoway may not seem high compared to the heat elsewhere - but this would be only the fourth time in 10 years the town had been so hot.

The heat will remain into Saturday evening, with temperatures in the low to mid 20s as late as 23:00 BST.

Sunday will see a slight dip to highs of 29C but the heat will remain - with a chance of some places around London seeing 30C or above.

The amber heat health alerts cover southern England, the Midlands, and East Anglia and will remain in place until Monday, the UK Health Security Agency has said.

Less severe yellow warnings remain in place for northern England on Saturday - meaning the warm weather could affect those who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly and those with existing health conditions.

Meanwhile, more than seven million people are under a hosepipe ban in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex.

This can mean restrictions on certain activities like watering gardens, washing cars, or filling up paddling pools - and those who break the ban could face a fine.

South East Water said demand for drinking water had "reached record levels" since May due to the extended spell of warm and dry weather in the region.

The heatwave is expected to end for most on Monday, as cooler Atlantic air brings temperatures closer to the seasonal average for much of the UK and rain to some areas.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka said conditions were "super hot" during her semi-final on Thursday

Wimbledon's Centre Court reached a sweltering 32C on Friday, where similar temperatures are expected in south-west London as the final rounds kick off on Saturday.

It could be close to the hottest women's finals day at the tennis championship, surpassing 1976's record 31.2C.

Wimbledon has already faced some of the hottest temperatures in its 148-year history this year, including a record-breaking opening day which saw players bake in 32.3C heat.

It has also introduced a heat rule for all singles matches - which allows players a 10-minute break when temperatures hit 30.1C.

The men's singles semi-final on Friday between Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz was stopped twice in less than five minutes, as fans in the crowd required medical attention.

Tournament organisers have added more free water refill points on the grounds and increased reminders for fans to take sun precautions and seek shade.

Much of southern and eastern England looked brown and parched in satellite imagery on Friday - showing the impact of the dry, hot spell

Fire chiefs have also warned people of the increased risk of drowning when trying to keep cool, urging parents to supervise their children at all times around the water.

Dry and hot conditions also make wildfires a crucial concern, with the risk currently rated at "severe" in London by the Natural Hazards Partnership.

"Our experience tells us that wildfires can start in an instant and escalate rapidly. That's why we're asking everyone to stay alert and act responsibly," the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) chairman Phil Garrigan said.

National Rail has warned commuters of possible disruption to travel this weekend as overhead power lines and rails could be affected by the heat.

Scientists warn that extreme weather conditions are made more likely as a result of manmade climate change.