HOT and humid weather is forecast for this week — and a heat health alert has been issued for Thursday to late Saturday.

The Met Office is forecasting a period of hot and humid weather, turning drier and more settled across the UK, with temperatures rising into the mid to high 20s Celsius in some areas.

The hot and humid air will arrive from France, lifting temperatures into the low 30s Celsius in places on Saturday.

Heat Health Alerts have been issued for later in the week, in conjunction with Public Health England.

The IW is at the current watch level two, Alert and Readiness, with a 70 per cent probability of heat health criteria being met between 6am on Thursday and 6pm on Saturday.

Met Office chief meteorologist, Steve Willington, said: “It’s going to get very warm across parts of the west and southwest of the country from Wednesday, and it’ll feel hot in places across southern and western parts of the UK by Friday, with temperatures possibly reaching 30 Celsius in a few spots.

“Localised heatwaves are possible in a few places across the UK by Saturday.”

Temperatures are also rising across large parts of continental Europe this week, with temperatures in some places rising to high 30s and low 40s Celsius, especially across France and Spain.