The Met Office has issued Amber Extreme Heat Warnings for Monday through Thursday, with temperatures forecast to exceed 35°C widely and peak at 38°C on Wednesday and Thursday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued Yellow and Amber Heat Health Alerts, advising households to close blinds and curtains on windows exposed to direct sunlight during the day to keep homes cooler.
Temperature forecast and warnings
Temperatures will quickly rise on Monday morning, reaching 34°C in southern parts of England. By Tuesday, highs of 37°C are forecast for southern England and 35°C for southeast Wales. The peak of the heatwave is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures could climb to 38°C. By Friday, conditions will be less hot, with highs of 33°C across eastern areas.
Overnight temperatures will also be very high, with widespread tropical nights where the temperature does not drop below 20°C, particularly in southern urban areas. Humidity will be a significant factor, with dew points around 22°C on Wednesday and Thursday, making the heatwave even more oppressive. For comparison, during the record-breaking July 2022 heatwave, dew points were only in single figures.
Health guidance and precautions
The UKHSA has detailed guidance on staying safe, including closing blinds and curtains on windows exposed to direct sunlight, closing external shutters or shades if available, moving to a cooler part of the house especially for sleeping, opening windows when the air feels cooler outside than inside (e.g., at night), using electric fans only if the air temperature is below 35°C (but not aiming directly at the body to avoid dehydration), turning off heating and unused lights and electrical equipment, and going outside if it is cooler in the shade.
People are urged to stay hydrated and avoid exhaustion and heatstroke. The full advice is available on the GOV.UK website.
Impact and sector warnings
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “The forecast heatwave is developing into an impactful severe weather event, with record-breaking June temperatures and very high humidity. The combination of heat and humidity will be oppressive and bring impacts across society from public health and infrastructure, to power and water supplies.” He added that consecutive tropical nights will make it very hard for people to recover from daytime heat, exacerbating heat stress impacts.
The amber warning highlights potential health impacts for the wider population, not just vulnerable groups, and warns of heat-related issues for transport, energy, and water supply sectors. An increase in potential water safety incidents is also noted as more people visit coastal areas, lakes, or rivers.
Regional coverage
Amber warnings came into effect at 1am on Monday, June 22, for local authorities across the East Midlands, East of England, London & South East England, South West England, Wales, and the West Midlands. Areas in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber will also come under warnings this week. The Met Office said warnings will be updated as necessary as confidence in the duration of the heat increases.
