Pet owners have been urged not to walk their dogs during a certain four-hour period on Tuesday as the UK braces for its fifth heatwave of 2026. The Met Office has forecast temperatures to soar, with highs of up to 30C possible across parts of England and Wales on Tuesday.
Heat health alerts in place
Heat health alerts spanning 84 hours are currently in place for seven regions. They came into force at 9am on Saturday and run until 9pm on Tuesday. Today (Sunday) will see the mercury climb into the low 30s Celsius in southern and south-eastern England, according to the Met Office. Monday is expected to see a slight dip, with highs of 27C to 29C forecast.
Met Office advice for pet owners
During hot weather, the Met Office urges people to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when UV rays are strongest. It also advises: "Don’t exercise dogs in the hottest parts of the day, especially older pets, flat-faced breeds or dogs with known heart or lung problems. Stick to early morning or late evening walks."
"Make sure all pets always have access to fresh water to drink, adequate ventilation, and shade from direct sunlight."
Heat to intensify later in week
The Met Office has forecast the heat to intensify further after Tuesday, with highs of between 32C and 34C on Wednesday. The highest temperatures are expected on Thursday, when 36C could be seen in parts of East Anglia and south-east England.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mike Silverstone said: "Temperatures will climb through the weekend and, more significantly, through much of next week. After a brief dip on Monday, high pressure will move across the UK before settling to the east, allowing a southerly flow to develop."
"A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places. The heat is expected to peak for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday, with up to 34°C possible in parts of central and southern England and southeast Wales. East Anglia and south-east England, however, could see temperatures even higher on Thursday."
"Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight."
