Britons hoping for a summer scorcher won't have to wait long as the latest weather maps have shown hot temperatures are here to stay.

The maps forecast thermometers will stick to the high 20s for at least another three days across most of southeast England.

Kent and East Sussex will take the brunt of the scorching weather with temperatures expected to hit 28-29C from Wednesday.

London and Essex will follow right behind with highs of 27C while Norfolk and Suffolk will have to settle for temperatures of between 26C and 27C.

The East Midlands, eastern parts of Devon, and Greater Manchester area will see warmer air coming in but will remain in the low 20s.

Brits soaked up sizzling highs of approximately 28C-29C on Monday as warm southern breezes swept across the land, and Tuesday is anticipated to ramp up the heat up to a scorching 32C.

Forecaster optimism suggests the heatwave criteria could soon be satisfied, with blistering hot weather expected to reign for much of the week ahead.

Met Office's Chief Meteorologist Frank Saunders said: "Much of the UK is entering a warm or even hot interlude of weather, with some places in England and Wales likely to meet heatwave criteria in the coming days.

"Temperatures are likely to peak at around 32C in southeast England on Tuesday and Wednesday, with much of the UK experiencing dry, fine and warm conditions in the first half of the week."

In response to the rising temperatures, the UK Health Security Agency has put out a Yellow Heat Health Alert for parts of England and cautioned that the intense heat may pose serious risks to the elderly and vulnerable individuals.

Whilst many may be planning to bask in the sunny climes outdoors, they should keep an eye on the sky as forecasts indicate a shift to more rainy and "unsettled" weather drawing near the weekend.

Showers are expected to drench the south of England beginning Wednesday night, accompanied by a yellow rain warning for central and southern regions on Thursday.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist David Oliver warned of an unsettled spell, stating: "There's a chance of some thundery showers across some southern areas of England on Wednesday, then on Thursday there is a signal for some potentially very heavy thunderstorms to develop.

"There are still details to confirm during this period, but in any event, there is a chance of some impacts on each day, especially Thursday.

"The heaviest showers on Thursday could result in 20-30mm of rain within an hour, with daily totals possibly reaching as high as 90mm if multiple showers impact the same location.

"Lightning and hail present additional hazards, with disruption likely for some. This is a developing element of the forecast, so it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest outlook in the coming days."

He also noted that cooler temperatures of around 24C are expected over the weekend, dipping to closer to 20C in northern areas.