Why the 2018 heatwave could be on course to beat the infamous summer of 1976

As Britain braces for a second bout of scorching weather this weekend, experts have warned this summer could finally break the records set by the infamous heatwave of 1976. The blistering temperatures in June stood toe-to-toe with those of June 1976, while this summer's July was hotter than its counterpart 42 years ago. If Britain is hit by a hotter-than-average August - as has been forecast by advanced computer models - 2018 could be the hottest summer ever recorded. This year's prolonged heat is the result of a number of factors, including extended high pressure and higher than average surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean. Experts have also warned that rising global temperatures caused by climate change are making the heatwaves gripping the northern hemisphere more ferocious and more likely.