Britain faces a triple whammy of record heat, sky-high pollen and choking pollution as the nation boils on red alert.
Temperatures over the next two days are expected to topple a raft of records as a bubbling heat dome slides up from the continent.
Warnings are also in force for rocketing pollen and pollution levels as Britain endures the most savage heatwave for half a century.
A Met Office spokesman said: “The highest pollen levels are expected across southern and eastern England.
“In the East of England, very high pollen levels are likely throughout the week.
“Across England and Wales, grass pollen will dominate and maintain high levels throughout, with many areas seeing a further increase into very high categories.
“The north of England will see persistent high pollen levels, while regions such as Yorkshire, the Midlands and the northwest will widely reach very high levels.”
Met Office pollen forecasts remain “very high” into the weekend, with just the far north of Scotland dropping to low.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) predicts “moderate” pollution across southern and central Britain.
French air-monitoring service Prev’Air warns the main risk will be from soaring temperatures driving up ozone levels.
Mete Coban, deputy mayor for environment and energy, said: “We are urging Londoners to look after themselves during this period of hot weather and elevated pollution levels, stop their engines idling, and refrain from burning garden waste – all of which contribute to high levels of pollution.
“It is really important we all do our bit to protect those who are most vulnerable as we continue working to build a safer and greener London for all.”
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The greatest risk will be from dangerous heat, with temperatures over the next 48 hours tipped to nudge 40C.
A high-pressure heat dome over Europe, where the mercury is nudging the mid-40Cs, will slip north over Britain.
Temperatures will rocket through the coming days, with Thursday expected to bring the peak of the heatwave.
The Met Office this week issued a rare red heat warning with dangerous heat threatening health and services.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “We have issued a rare, red extreme heat warning for parts of southern England, the Midlands and parts of south Wales, where we are going to see exceptional temperatures.
“Temperatures are going to be exceptionally high, and records are going to broken, and we are looking at temperatures exceeding the 35.6C record of 1976.
“Temperatures are going to get even higher on Wednesday with signs of 38C or 39C possible, and it could be hotter still on Thursday, with temperatures in the mid to high 30Cs.”
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’, added: “The heat is likely to peak on Wednesday or Thursday, with temperatures in the high-30Cs.
“Records are going to fall during this period, with 38C possible at the height of the heatwave.”
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