Three separate weather events in the coming months could melt pavements in the sweltering heat. And it could even surpass the 40C heatwave that saw the UK record high when the country was put on an extreme heat warning. The superheat could start as early as May and last for weeks, forecasters predict. Mr Dale, a meteorologist at the UK’s Met Office, said the signs were “already here”. In the forecast he said: “After a rather miserable start to spring, we are late into the heatwave.” “We are looking at factors including El Niño, which could affect the weather across Europe,” he added. The heatwave depends on whether we get south or southeast at the right time. El Niño occurs when ocean currents slow down – or reverse – causing a surge in temperatures from South America. The Met Office says in its long-term forecast that there is a one in three (or 35 per cent) chance that the UK summer will be warmer than average. That's double the percentage of normal.

(HELEN BENNICKE)