Britain braces for fourth heatwave of year as fire chiefs issue public appeal

Temperatures up to 35C forecast, triggering heat health alerts and pleas to take care in parched parks and rural areas Paramedics and firefighters are braced for emergencies across the country this week after UK forecasters predicted a fourth heatwave of the year. Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 35C by Wednesday, triggering heat health alerts and an appeal from fire chiefs to take care in parched parks and rural areas. July has been 3C above average across the UK, according to provisional Met Office data, and with more than a month of summer left, the UK has already faced more days above 30C than ever before. Southern England has had just 1% of its average July rainfall, while England as a whole has had 5% and the UK 20%, according to the Met Office. Forecasters predict this latest heatwave will at least be shortlived. Temperatures are expected to rise from Tuesday, reaching 30C as a high pressure system sits across the east and south-east of the country, before the peak of the heat comes on Wednesday. Temperatures would begin to gradually cool from Thursday, the Met Office said, except in the south-east where another hot day could keep the region in official heatwave