Met Office urges Brits to do 5-second test before heading outside this weekend

Summer is in full swing, and with another heatwave officially here dog owners are being warned of pavement temperatures soaring across the nation.

Before heading off for their daily walk, dog owners are being told to test the ground's temperature by doing afive-second tarmac test. The Met Office said: “If it feels too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.”

According to Four Paws, pavement temperatures can be even hotter than the surrounding environment. Taking a four-legged friend out in midday temperatures can therefore cause their pads to burn.

Darker surfaces, such as the slate grey colour of tarmac, can also be hotter than lighter stones often seen in town centres and high streets.

READ MORE: Met Office urges Brits to follow 4 rules in extreme heat this week

If conducting such a test makes anyone pull their hand away instantly, this is a key sign the ground is not a suitable temperature for the pup, and in such an instance, the daily walk should be abandoned.

That's at least until the late evening, when thermometers may have cooled and the ground is a more tolerable heat.

The summer's UV rays can pose some serious health risks to an array of dogs. Chances of them getting sick from the high temperatures increases, especially for older pets, flat-faced breeds or those with existing illnesses such as heart or lung diseases, the Met Office has warned.

READ MORE: UK weather: Your rights when working from home or in the office during heatwave

But the humidity can also get to dogs when they are at home, so they must have access to fresh water at all times, as well as proper ventilation and space with shade to avoid the sun.

When will the UK be at its hottest?

Met Office chief meteorologist, Jason Kelly, said: “High pressure from the Atlantic will lead to a build in temperatures over the coming days, with heatwave criteria reached by the weekend.

"Whilst temperatures are expected to build day on day, becoming widely hot, they are unlikely to surpass those recorded at the start of the month. This heatwave is expected to be longer lived and extend further north and west into a larger part of the UK than previously seen this summer.

"Temperatures are expected to peak over the weekend and ease early next week. They are expected to reach 30C in some areas today and exceed 30C more widely tomorrow (Friday), with peak temperatures on Saturday of 33C possible in parts of England and Wales.”