An amber warning for extreme heat has come into force for parts of England, with temperatures potentially reaching 38C in some areas, as the UK could see its hottest day of the year so far.
The warning, issued by the Met Office, covers a region stretching from London to Sheffield, including parts of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands, and South Yorkshire. It is in effect from 9am to midnight on Thursday.
Record-breaking summer continues
This is the fifth heatwave of what is on track to be a record hot summer, potentially beating the previous record set last year. Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said temperatures in the warning area could reach highs of around 36C, 37C, or possibly 38C.
"Now when you get these sorts of high temperatures, well that's when we could see impacts to our infrastructure, our railway lines, our roads, they are not designed for this sort of heat," Burkill said. "And more people are likely to be impacted by how hot it is with regards to their health."
Hottest day of the year?
Burkill added that it could be the hottest day of the year so far if temperatures exceed 38C, and potentially the hottest August day on record if they surpass 38.5C, though he noted that outcome is unlikely.
The highest temperature of the year so far was 38C, recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 28, during a deadly heatwave that prompted a rare red warning.
Drought and wildfires
With record dry conditions in July and a dry start to August, nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales are in drought, putting pressure on water resources for households, agriculture, and the environment.
England and Wales have already seen as many wildfires this year as in all of 2025. According to data from the National Fire Chiefs Council, 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, matching last year's record-breaking total.
Crews from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service continue to battle a blaze that hit protected heathland in the New Forest after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday. In an update on Wednesday evening, the fire service said crews expect to be at the scene for at least another three to four days.
Government response and public health
Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee on Wednesday in response to the prolonged spell of exceptionally hot and dry weather. He said there had been a "significant number of excess deaths from heat this summer already" and urged the public to follow health advice, including checking on elderly friends and relatives.
Two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June led to more than 2,800 excess deaths. The Royal College of Nursing has warned that nurses are collapsing at work and are being forced to care for patients in temperatures exceeding 30C.
Most major UK supermarkets have stopped selling disposable barbecues in recent weeks, following voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council. Burnham has urged all shops to stop selling them and indicated that an outright ban could be considered in future summers.
Chiltern Railways and East Midlands Railway have issued alerts to "only travel if essential", while other operators will either run reduced timetables or warn about potential short-notice cancellations.
