Why a heatwave in the UK feels hotter than 30C heat abroad

Temperatures are set to hit up to 34 degrees in the UK this week.

Well, it turns out there's a legit reason for it, and it's not just in our heads.

While temperatures of 30C can feel breezy and pleasant in the holiday hotspots like Spain and Portugal, in the UK it can feel sticky and humid.

The Met Office has forecasted that parts of the UK could reach highs of 34C this weekend, with many areas hitting temperatures around 30C.

Annie Shuttleworth, a meteorologist from the Met Office, told Stylist: "It is perhaps how heatwaves in the UK are perceived that makes them less manageable.

"When we experience heat abroad, we're usually on holiday and may be close to a pool or the beach. In general, buildings and infrastructure are also more set up for heat abroad – for example, there is more air conditioning."

The feeling of the temperature is all to do with humidity.

In 2021, the Met Office told MyLondon: "The level of humidity can be higher in the UK than in continental Europe. If humidity is high, it is harder for the human body to keep cool as your sweat doesn't evaporate as quickly.

"This is made worse given that we are experiencing more 'tropical nights' – nights where the temperature doesn't go below 20C, meaning we get no respite from the heat and time for our body to recover."

Sweat relies on a temperature gradient between us and the air, meaning the process becomes less effective the hotter it gets.

Sweat naturally cools us down through the evaporation process; however, humidity can affect this.

Speaking to BBC Science Focus, meteorologist Dr Matthew Patterson said: "Sweating cools you down because when the water evaporates, it transfers energy away from your body. However, sweating is less effective if there is already a lot of moisture in the air."

This explains why it can feel hotter in the UK and also explains why health and weather warning are issued when heatwaves occur here.

Also speaking to BBC Science Focus, climate expert Professor Hannah Cloke added: "Two regions might have identical temperatures, but one might feel OK, while the other leaves people dangerously overheated. Measures like the UTCI can provide planners with a much better understanding of where and when the impacts of a heatwave will be felt."