Baking days and sticky nights...

PLEA TO USE WATER WISELY IN THE HEATWAVE

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor [e-mail]

THIS weekend's "uncomfortably" hot weather may be followed by more heatwaves this month, weather models suggest.

The dry spell is worrying water companies, with Dwr Cymru pleading with people in Wales to use water sparingly.

The Met Office is warning of scorching weather in Wales today, July 12.

Temperatures are predicted to peak at 32C in Wrexham and Denbighshire, and 33C in Monmouthshire, though it will be balmy everywhere.

Even more dramatic are night time temperature forecasts. By midnight on Saturday, some north eastern areas of Wales could still be sweltering in the high 20Cs - potentially up to 27C, according to the GFS model. Cheshire could see highs of 29C during the night.

The Met Office said: "The heat will persist into Saturday night, particularly in western and northwestern parts of the UK. Overnight temperatures are expected to remain above 20 degrees C in some areas, making for an uncomfortably warm night and potentially disrupting sleep."