Britons could be sizzling in temperatures above 40C soon as global heat levels continue to rise, with some areas hitting a scorching 50C.

The UK experienced unprecedented heat during the summer of 2022, with temperatures reaching a record-breaking 40.3C. Weather expert Jim Dale has now issued a stark warning that such sweltering conditions could become the norm, following reports that Sunday marked the hottest day ever recorded on Earth.

Commenting on the alarming trend of rising global temperatures, Mr Dale remarked: “In measured human history we’ve just beaten all-time records. It’s a bit of a one-way street. Just because we don’t necessarily share the high profile side of that doesn’t mean we’re not either contributing or at the point where we may start to see what we saw 2 years ago.”

He continued: “The way things are going at this moment in time in terms of the acceleration of global temperatures, it is becoming more likely that once we get the right weather scenario 40C will be surpassed again in the near future.”

However, Mr Dale suggested that while the 40C mark could be exceeded, Britain facing 50C was much less probable. He told the Mirror: “50C is probably a long way off given what it’s going to take to get to 50C in our country. If we’re going to see 50C other parts of the world will see 60C, that’s death on sticks.”

“Many people have died in India and other places due to 50C of heat. It’s a bit of a scary future scenario if nothing is done about fossil fuel emissions. Long before that other parts of the world, tropical and sub-tropical areas will see those other temperatures, 50C, without a question.”

The weather expert described rising temperatures as a “one-way street” and said “it’s all pointing in the same direction”.

He added: “Things just ramp up and things just accelerate. Things are just accelerating beyond control, that’s why we end up with shortages of water, floods, and wildfires.”

“The one thing about the UK…is that we are fairly lucky compared to other parts of the world as in being a temperate climate, surrounded by ocean that means that to get to these critical situations will take a bit of a push.”

While the UK might not be affected by 50C temperatures, consistent periods of time at 40C and above could still have an impact.

On whether livestock could be affected, Mr Dale said: “Without a shadow of a doubt. It’s a cascading effect. You start off with one or two incidents and it’s a domino effect.”

“If livestock and crops are the beginning of it, within that will be instances of the young and elderly who will be affected first. Look for casualties and impacts that won’t necessarily occur to us at that moment as we get into that death zone area.

“The death zone is 35C upwards, but in reality, in terms of mass impacts on the way that we live and die, I think 45C upwards is where the panic button has to be pressed to a degree. A lot of this will depend on the temperature profile.

“We may be able to cope with a single day with the right information, but once it unwinds into a week and more it becomes a greater problem.”

Additionally, commenting on the chances of the UK experiencing 40C this Summer, Mr Dale declared that the UK might “see +30 deg in central and south east England as we push on towards and through the first 10 days of Aug”.