Ayr is set to get temperatures of up to 21C at the beginning of next week as much of the UK experiences a heatwave.

Southern parts of Scotland have been issued with an amber extreme heat warning for Monday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 19 as it is predicted that the UK could record its highest-ever temperature.

It is going to be slightly cooler in Ayr over that period, but still with a bit of sunshine to enjoy.

Monday will see highs of 19C for the area, whilst on Tuesday it could go up to 21C.

This is still quite a contrast to England, which could go above 40C on Tuesday.

What is an ‘official’ heatwave?

Whether there will be what the Met Office describes as an 'official' heatwave depends on whether the weather meets the below threshold.

A location meets the UK heatwave threshold when it records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperature levels which vary across the country.

The UK threshold has actually been updated ahead of summer 2022.

Due to our changing climate, the Met Office now uses the 1991-2020 averaging period. 

Why do heatwaves happen?

The Met Office says that heatwaves are most common in summer when high pressure develops across an area.

Ayr Advertiser: Much of the UK will experience high temperatures at the start of the week (PA)Much of the UK will experience high temperatures at the start of the week (PA)

These High Pressure systems move slowly and can stay over an area for days or even weeks. 

Heatwaves happen in the UK due to the location of the jet stream, which is usually found to the north of the UK in the summer, allowing for high pressure to develop and more settled weather to occur.

Find out more about heatwaves and tips on keeping cool in the hot weather by visiting the Met Office website.

While South-East parts of England have seen a shift, Scotland's daily maximum threshold temperature continues to be 25C.