Choosing the perfect summer holiday destination based on the weather

The promise of warm and sunny weather is a major draw for UK holidaymakers booking their summer holiday.

According to the Association for British Travel Agents (ABTA) our top five holiday destinations are Spain, France, Italy, the US and Greece, with 48% of us favouring a beach holiday over any other type of break.

But just how warm do you like your favourite summer holiday spot to be?

As the UK spring continues to bring its usual contrasts - sunshine one minute, wind and rain the next, many of us will be dreaming of warmer (or perhaps cooler climes) and looking to book a summer holiday abroad.

Whilst the summer holiday season has started to even out a little more across the year, ABTA data shows that most people still plan holidays in the warmest months between June and September.

July is generally the peak month for warmth across northern and western Europe.

Southern Europe tends to see the peak of its heat slightly later in July or during August, according to Copernicus, the EU's Climate Change Service.

Summer heat has a cumulative effect. The ground and the sea take a while to heat up and then lose the heat again after the longest days, which occur in June.

And, sea temperatures tend to be higher later in the summer.

If you enjoy heat and humidity, you may be a calidophile (from the latin 'calidus' meaning hot).

In which case holiday destinations such as Marrakech in Morocco, inland Andalusia in southern Spain or the Peloponnese in southern Greece won't disappoint. Average July and August daytime temperatures here exceed 35C.

Average minimum temperatures are 21C, making for an uncomfortable night's sleep for those not used to the heat.

Some of these destinations could prove to be too close for comfort with 32C considered a threshold temperature for triggering heat stress, particularly in humid conditions.

The body's ability to regulate temperature in these conditions is heavily tested, increasing the danger of heatstroke, heart attacks, and respiratory problems, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Inland areas are generally hotter than the coast during the summer because land heats up and cools down faster than water.

The sea acts as a moderating influence keeping conditions cooler.

For a summer beach holiday with an average temperature of 30C try Naples, Malta, Alicante or the Ionian Islands.

Those seeking average temperatures in the high 20s, may find that the French Riviera, Algarve or Canary Islands might appeal.

'Coolcations' are slowly growing in popularity.

For those who fancy a city break with temperatures in the low-to-mid 20's, Brussels, Gijon, Amsterdam and London beckon.

If that's still a little to warm for you, consider heading further north still to Dublin, Tallin or Glasgow where temperatures are likely to hover around 20C.

For travellers who consider themselves the coolest of cucumbers, Reykjavik has a summer average temperature of just 13C.

True 'chionophiles' (lover of cold weather - from chion, the Greek word for snow), may enjoy Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean where average temperatures in August are just 4C - not to mention the endless days too where the summer sun never sets.

ABTA reports that when asked if recent heatwaves in the Mediterranean have caused people to think twice about a holiday there, nearly 65% of respondents answered 'No'.

But this may change as our plant continues to warm.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation, Europe is the fastest warming continent on Earth, warming at twice the global rate.

During summer, it is vulnerable to periods of extreme weather including intense heat waves.

It is thought that by 2050 half of the European population will be at risk or at very high risk of heat stress.

It's not just higher temperatures that affect our holidays. Climate change also brings an increased threat of drought, flooding and wildfires.

Industry experts have noticed there is a growing trend of holidaymakers choosing cooler months to travel in, extending the holiday season in many resorts.

According to travel expert Simon Calder, "There is an increased emphasis on travel to northern destinations, with more routes to Iceland, Norway and Finland than ever… spreading tourism more evenly."

Find out how extreme heat could affect our holiday plans here and for the latest forecast for your holiday, check BBC Weather online or on our app.