Bristol weather: This is the exact date the heatwave will return, according to the Met Office

With hose pipe bans in place around the UK and the weather starting to creep back into the less-than-comfortable warmer climates, Bristol is one of those areas where the thermostat has once again started its climb.

The Met Office earlier today (August 9) has now issued an amber alert for parts of the UK, with Bristol now on an extreme heat warning from Thursday to Sunday.

Though no hose pipe ban has been confirmed yet in Bristol, residents can expect a big difference in temperatures this week compared to last week - and yes, the Met Office is  expecting Bristol to meet its  definition of a heatwave.

How hot will it get in Bristol this week?

Bristol will see temperatures rising to over 30c this week, according to the Met Office.

As the Met Office has determined that a heatwave in the South-West is any consistent temperature for three days or more over the 25c threshold, Bristol can now expect the heatwave to arrive later this week.

The hottest Bristol will get is 32c by the end of the week, with the weather getting progressively warmer in the run up to the weekend.

Expect temperatures between 29c to 32c throughout the rest of the week.

When will the heatwave arrive in Bristol?

We are currently in the midst of a heatwave, according to the Met Office’s threshold for the South-West of England.

But for those Bristol residents expecting it to cool off, the weather is expected to reach those 30c plus temperatures on Thursday (11 August), Friday (12 August), Saturday (13 August) and Sunday (14 August).

Wednesday (10 August) is also forecast to be 29c, however the humidity levels peak at 67% on Saturday.

What does the rest of the week look like in Bristol?

The Met Office have forecast that across the next five days:

• Tuesday - Sunny changing to cloudy by the early evening evening (28c/16c)
• Wednesday - Sunny (29c/17c)
• Thursday - Sunny (31c/18c)
• Friday - Sunny (32c/19c)
• Saturday - Sunny changing to partly cloudy by nighttime (31c/18c)
• Sunday - Sunny intervals changing into cloudy in the afternoon (31c/19c)

What is the long-range forecast for Bristol?

The long-range forecast from the Met Office has stated: “the start of the period will likely be fine and sunny for most. Cloud and outbreaks of light rain may be seen in the far northwest on Friday, along with possible coastal mist or fog. Winds are expected to be mostly light and temperatures above average, becoming warm in the north and hot in the south.”

“Into the weekend and through next week, mainly dry and settled weather will likely continue for most. The north is expected to see the most of any precipitation, but there is also a low risk of thunderstorms developing in the south”.

“Temperatures will likely be very warm, locally hot for much of England and Wales, especially across the southern parts, but closer to normal while still warm elsewhere.”

Will Bristol now receive a hose pipe ban?

Bristol Water, who take care of water management for the area, have still determined that there will be no need for a hose pipe ban, despite the returning drier weather.

“Despite rainfall this year being below average - we do not expect to impose hosepipe bans or any other water supply restrictions during 2022”.

The company proposes that it will continue its “dry weather management plan” and explore other options in efforts to help recover “reservoir levels over the winter recharge period”.

They have stressed the importance to conserve water though, including:

• Washing up using a bowl
• Only fill the kettle with the amount of water needed
• Using mulch for gardens rather than sprinklers
• Spending less than a minute having a shower
• Turning off the tap when brushing your teeth
• If you must water your garden, use a watering can and water your plants early morning or late evening.

Bristol Water has a more exhaustive list of water conservation tips available on the website.

What is an amber weather alert?

An amber alert is issued by the Met Office when there is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans. This means there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property.

The Met Office consider Liverpool’s amber alert warning to mean:

• Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat
• The wider population are likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat related illnesses
• Some changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required
• An increased chance that some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail.
• More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes, rivers and other beauty spots leading to an increased risk of water safety and fire-related incidents.
• Some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays

What is a heatwave?

A heatwave is an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity.

A UK heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.

The threshold varies by UK county.

Heatwaves are most common in summer when high pressure develops across an area. High pressure systems are slow moving and can persist over an area for a prolonged period of time, such as days or weeks.

They can occur in the UK due to the location of the jet stream, which is usually to the north of the UK in the summer. This can allow high pressure to develop over the UK resulting in persistent dry and settled weather.