The Met Office has confirmed that Manchester will experience peak temperatures of 36C on Thursday afternoon during the ongoing UK heatwave, with amber weather warnings in place across the region.
According to Met Office spokesperson Natalia Wells, the city will see "extremely hot and humid conditions" this week, with temperatures climbing steadily from Tuesday. "The cloud of this morning will be breaking away this afternoon to give way to plenty of sunshine bringing high temperatures throughout the afternoon and into the evening. A maximum daytime temperature of 33C can be expected, followed by a warm and muggy evening, reaching a minimum temperature of 19C tonight," she said.
Temperature Forecast for Manchester
Wednesday will continue with strong sunshine and maximum temperatures in the low 30s Celsius, with another warm and muggy overnight period. The peak is expected on Thursday, when temperatures could reach 36C in the afternoon, with continued warmth into the evening. Friday remains hot, but cooler conditions are forecast for Saturday and Sunday.
Heat maps for Thursday at 4pm show temperatures of 34C in Manchester, 35C in Liverpool and North Wales, and 37C in the West Midlands.
National Context and Record-Breaking Potential
Across the UK, temperature records are set to be broken this week. In southern England, a rare red weather warning for extreme heat will be in place on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures are expected to exceed June's all-time daily record of 35.6C recorded in 1976, with the Met Office forecasting at least 39C and a chance of climbing above 40C. If that happens, the UK's highest recorded temperature of 40.3C from July 2022 could also be broken.
Manchester is covered by an amber alert for extreme heat on Wednesday and Thursday, an area stretching across the majority of southern England, Wales, the Midlands, and up to Lancashire and North Yorkshire. The red warning affects a smaller area within the amber zone, in force from 9am Wednesday to 9pm Thursday.
Health Warnings and Impacts
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued heat health alerts. Amber alerts are in place for the north east, north west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, while red alerts cover the rest of England. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: "We are urging health and social care services across the country to ensure they are prepared. It is vitally important that people understand the risk posed by high temperatures like these, and take steps to keep themselves and their friends, families and neighbours safe."
Dr Sousa added: "A red heat health alert indicates a risk to life for even the healthy population, but simple actions like staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool can make a big difference. It’s also important to look out for others, especially elderly relatives, neighbours, and those with underlying health conditions, to make sure they are aware of the forecast and following the necessary advice."
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said: "Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat. The last time the UK recorded temperatures this high was in July 2022, but on this occasion the heat is expected to be accompanied by high humidity."
He also noted that consecutive nights with temperatures above 20C, known as Tropical Nights, will make it hard for people to recover from daytime heat, exacerbating heat stress impacts.
