Today temperatures across the North East are expected to soar as the UK prepares itself for record- breaking temperatures - but when will temperatures peak?

Many parts of the UK have found themselves under a red or amber warning for extreme heat as an exceptional hot spell is expected to peak today and tomorrow.

In the North East, adverse health effects, delays to road and rail and an increased chance that electrical systems will fail, are all part of an amber warning for extreme heat today.

Read more: River Tyne: Police searching for missing boy, 13, at Ovingham find body

The Northern Echo: The temperatures at their peak today at 6pmThe temperatures at their peak today at 6pm

The warning, which is in place all day today and all day tomorrow has warned that a “hot spell” will likely peak early this week, “leading to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.”

A spokesperson for The Met Office said the hot weather was due to the "Azores high," they added: "The heat from the weekend just gone and at the moment is due to the Azores high that allows the strong July sunshine to maximise daytime heating during the long summer days we currently have."

The Northern Echo:

What time are temperatures set to peak today and how hot will it get?

For many places across the North East and North Yorkshire, temperatures today are set to peak between 4pm and 5pm. However, it can vary from location to location.

Read more: Heatwave: Bedale school to close next week due to hot weather

Here’s when temperatures will peak across the North East today and how it might get:

Darlington:

Between 3pm and 6pm, with temperatures reaching 33c, and feeling like 32c.

The Northern Echo:

Durham:

Between 4pm and 5pm, with temperatures reaching a high of 32c, and feeling like 29c.

The Northern Echo:

Newton Aycliffe:

Between 4pm and 5pm, with temperatures reaching 33c, and feeling like 31c.

Bishop Auckland:

Between 4pm and 5pm, with temperatures reaching 32c, and feeling like 30c.

Read more: What time does the cost of living payment go in? Exact time cash will hit bank account

Middlesbrough:

At 5pm, with temperatures reaching 34c, and feeling like 33c.

The Northern Echo:

Sunderland:

At 1pm, with temperatures reaching 25c, and feeling like 24c.

Newcastle upon Tyne

Between 4pm and 7pm, with temperatures reaching 30c, and feeling like 30c.

Northallerton:

Between 5pm and 6pm, with temperatures reaching 34c, and feeling like 33c.

The Northern Echo:

Richmond:

Between 3pm and 6pm, with temperatures reaching 32c, and feeling like 31c.

How long will the heatwave last?

According to The Met Office, the heatwave is expected to last until the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Temperatures are expected to be at their hottest by mid-afternoon tomorrow, but thankfully, will begin to cool off as we move into Wednesday, and staying cool for much of the week.

Showers and longer spells of rain have even been predicted on Wednesday for some areas, which looks set to continue as the week progresses.

Looking further ahead into the weekend, a spokesperson for the Met Office, said: “A generally dry start to the period with sunny intervals is expected for most on Friday.

“However, scattered showers remain likely to be seen locally. It may become more unsettled over the weekend, with showers and some longer spells of rain developing more widely.

Read more: Mum falls victim to Hartlepool Marina car park after £170 bill

“Temperatures are expected to trend close to the average for late July, perhaps warm or very warm in parts of southeast.

“Fine and dry weather is likely to arrive for many further into the period, as high pressure will slowly build over the UK through the middle of next week.

“Southern parts may become warm to very warm again, while much of the north and northwest will see temperatures closer to normal.

“Approaching the end of July, the conditions may begin shifting to generally more unsettled.

--------

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054