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Why is it so hot in the UK and Europe and when will it rain?

By Jo Wheeler, weather presenter

It's hot over Europe at the moment thanks to a heat dome; a high pressure system which acts like a pan lid, preventing cooler air masses moving in and causing temperatures to rise as air is forced down and compressed.

So Iberia and France have seen daytime highs well above average.

At the same time, we have high pressure to the east of the country (clockwise winds), and low pressure to the south-west (anticlockwise winds).

Combined they're creating a strong draw of air from the South.

And whilst we won't see the dizzy heights of 40C here, we are seeing temperatures topping 30C.

Now, a heatwave is defined in different regions at different temperatures across the UK and Ireland but it seems likely that quite an extensive part of England and Wales will be experiencing a heatwave over the next couple of days.

And not for the first time this summer! And even though it becomes less hot in the UK through the coming week, we won't be reaching for the thermals either.

Temperatures will remain above average into the weekend and beyond.

Long range forecasts are somewhat unreliable when we are not seeing any major drivers in force (El Nino, La Nina, North Atlantic Oscillation to name a few).

But the Met Office is leaning towards a more settled weather picture for the rest of the month for the UK.

That's not to say there won't be any rain, but little sign of anything significant.

Above all, we can probably rely on the British weather to deliver a surprise when we least expect it!