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Britons have been warned to brace for scorching temperatures, with the mercury tipping 29°C in parts of England and Wales in the early part of next week. New weather maps produced by WXCharts, using its Global Forecast System (GFS) model, show a swathe of central and southern England hitting the high 20s on August 26, while northern England, Scotland and coastal areas remain significantly cooler.

According to the forecast, the 10 hottest counties will be Greater London, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and South Glamorgan. These areas are expected to record maximum temperatures of between 27°C and 29°C, with London and the surrounding region at the top end of the scale.

The maps indicate that large parts of the Midlands and the southeast will experience widespread warmth, while temperatures further north are forecast to remain between 17°C and 22°C. Northern Ireland is also expected to stay cooler, with highs mostly in the high teens.

The forecast aligns with the Met Office medium-range outlook, which highlights high pressure as the dominant feature through the end of August.

The forecaster states: "Settled conditions are expected to continue for much of the period, with plenty of dry weather and sunny spells. Temperatures are likely to be above average, particularly across southern and central areas."

The Met Office also notes that more unsettled weather could develop towards the end of the period, as Atlantic systems begin to exert greater influence.

This return of higher temperatures follows a cooler spell across much of the UK and is likely to be one of the final significant hot periods of the summer.

While the warm weather will be welcomed by many, public health advice remains for people to take precautions during the hottest part of the day.

The NHS recommends staying hydrated, wearing light clothing and limiting strenuous activity during peak afternoon hours.

If current projections hold, Tuesday will bring one of the highest temperatures recorded in August so far this year.

Sunworshippers should make the most of it though: for much of central and southern England, it may prove to be the last spell of near-30 °C heat before the onset of more autumnal conditions.