Third Heatwave Hits Tunbridge Wells With 31C Peak

Tunbridge Wells baked under the third heatwave of the year on Tuesday as the Met Office confirmed temperatures would peak at 31C. The prolonged spell of hot and dry weather shows no immediate sign of easing, with the forecast pointing to daytime highs staying in the upper 20s right through to early next week.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will all reach 30C before the heat slackens slightly to 28C on Saturday and 26C on Sunday, settling at 25C by Monday 13 July. Overnight lows will hover between 15C and 17C, though the Met Office warned that built-up parts of town could see tropical nights where the mercury refuses to drop below 20°C. UV levels hit 8, the very high category, on Tuesday, prompting an official advisory to avoid being outside or seek shade between 11am and 3pm, with a shirt, sunscreen and hat described as essential. Pollen counts are also very high every day this week, and the chance of any rain remains below 5%.

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates said the current hot weather, driven by a stationary area of high pressure, would not match the record‑breaking extremes seen in May and June. “However, unlike the May and June heatwaves, we are not expecting this heatwave to be record‑breaking,” he said, noting that peak temperatures and overnight warmth would be more restrained. Despite that assessment, the long‑range outlook suggests heatwave conditions are likely to persist across southern areas through the middle of July, with temperatures staying above the seasonal average even if they moderate slightly later in the period.

The Met Office urged residents to drink plenty of water, keep out of direct sun during the hottest hours, and check on older or vulnerable neighbours. Further advice from the agency stressed the danger of leaving anyone in a parked car, where temperatures can rise rapidly to dangerous levels.