An amber warning for extreme heat has come into force across a swathe of England, with temperatures potentially reaching 38C in some areas. 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, and is in effect from 9am to midnight on Thursday.
This is the fifth heatwave of what is on track to be a record-hot summer, beating the previous record set only last year. Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said temperatures in the warned areas could reach highs of around 36C, 37C, or possibly 38C.
Potential hottest day of the year
Burkill noted that if temperatures exceed 38C, it could be the hottest day of the year so far, and if they surpass 38.5C, it could mark the hottest August day on record, though he described that as unlikely. The current highest temperature of the year is 38C, recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 28 during a deadly heatwave that prompted a rare red warning.
The warning follows a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee chaired by Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday in response to the prolonged spell of exceptionally hot and dry weather.
Infrastructure and health impacts
Burkill warned that such high temperatures could affect infrastructure, including railway lines and roads, which are not designed for this level of heat. He also said more people are likely to be impacted by the heat with regard to their health.
Baroness Brown, who chairs the independent advisory Climate Change Committee's adaptation work, warned that conditions "get worse from here" until greenhouse gas emissions are cut to net zero. The UK is facing increasingly extreme conditions such as heatwaves, drought and wildfires, fuelled by climate change driven by emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Drought and wildfires
With record dry conditions in July and a dry start to August, nearly three-quarters of England and the whole 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 the whole of 2025, with 1,017 wildfires recorded, according to data shared by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), matching last year's record total.
Crews from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have continued battling 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.
Public health and travel advice
The Prime Minister 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. Others have reported seizures and "dripping with sweat from head to toe", with nurses saying patients are being cared for in hospitals described as "unbearably hot" and "not fit for humans".
Chiltern Railways and East Midlands Railway have issued alerts to "only travel if essential", while other operators will either run a reduced timetable or warn about the potential for short-notice cancellations.
