A HEATWAVE alert has been issued with the mercury set to peak at 30C in Dorset over the next few days.

A ‘level-2’ heat-health alert has been issued for the southwest of England with a 70 per cent probability of heatwave conditions.

The yellow alert is triggered “as soon as the risk is 60% or above for threshold temperatures being reached in one or more regions on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night.”

Heatwave: see what our local forecasters have said about the weather The Met Office says: “This is an important stage for social and healthcare services who will be working to ensure readiness and swift action to reduce harm from a potential heatwave.”

According to the Met Office forecast, Friday will see highs of 27c with temperatures set to reach 30C on Saturday with 28C forecast on Sunday.

The hot weather is set to continue into next week with 27C forecast for Monday and 26C on Tuesday. UV Levels will be high.

However, deputy chief meteorologist David Oliver said the high temperatures could trigger some thunderstorms across parts of the UK by the beginning of next week.

Posting on Twitter this morning, Wimborne-based weather forecaster WessexWeather said: “Surprisingly widespread but welcome drizzle this morning should clear later, heralding several days of hot, sunny weather. However it could start to turn thundery from Sunday into next week, but remaining warm.”

The highest temperature reached so far this year is 37.8C, recorded at Heathrow on July 31.