Predictions of a heatwave in the UK in July have been hitting the national headlines, but will it be the case for our area?

Our paper asked the Met Office for an answer, and it transpires that a heatwave has not actually been forecast anywhere in the UK for July. 

A spokesperson for the Met Office explained: "To reach heatwave conditions, a number of criteria need to be reached which you cannot forecast this far in advance."

However, with fine and settled conditions extending across the UK, forecasters are signalling the prospect of higher temperatures to come into the early part of next week.

Temperatures in Hertfordshire - including Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, St Albans, Harpenden and Royston - are set to hit 25°C by Monday, with the warm weather sticking around for the rest of the week.

Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: "Some central and southern areas are likely to see temperatures approaching the values needed for heatwave conditions. Heatwave conditions need to remain in situ for three consecutive days, and by the middle of next week it is possible that some parts of the UK could be reaching heatwave thresholds.

"However, whether or not everyone experiences heatwave thresholds, the majority of the UK will experience the finest conditions and highest temperatures so far this year."