A rare Met Office red warning for extreme heat covering parts of England and Wales has come into force for just the second time ever. The warning, stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham, began at 9am on Wednesday and will last until 9pm on Thursday.
Record-breaking temperatures expected
Temperatures could reach 40°C on Wednesday and Thursday in some regions as a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe brings extreme conditions. During the peak, the temperature could approach the UK’s all-time high of 40.3°C, recorded in Lincolnshire in July 2022. The heatwave is also expected to surpass the June record of 35.6°C set in Hampshire in 1976.
BBC weather forecaster Chris Fawkes said he expected the June temperature record to get “absolutely smashed”, telling the Today programme: “I think this afternoon we’re probably looking at highs reaching around 37°C, maybe 38°C, so by a big margin we are likely to set a new June temperature record.”
Health and infrastructure risks
The Met Office warned that extreme heat and humidity could impact public health, infrastructure, power and water supplies. Heat-related issues could affect transport, energy and water supply sectors. There may also be an increase in water safety incidents as more people visit coastal areas, lakes or rivers.
Overnight temperatures stayed above 20°C in many areas, with Brize Norton in Oxfordshire not dipping below 22.3°C and Heathrow, west London, not falling below 22.1°C.
North West outlook
Temperatures remain high in the north west, with a hot day expected on Wednesday. The Met Office forecast: "Dry today with strong sunshine. After a warm start, temperatures will quickly rise to bring a very hot day across the region with light winds and high humidity into the afternoon. Maximum temperature 32°C."
The forecaster warned of a "warm and muggy" night ahead of an "even hotter" day on Thursday: "Staying dry and very warm through the evening with some late sunshine. A very warm and muggy night to come. Minimum temperature 18°C. Turning even hotter on Thursday with extreme heat continuing and high humidity. Perhaps a little cloudier at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 34°C."
