Met Office Issues Amber Heat Warning for 71 UK Areas Reaching 35C

The Met Office has issued revised amber heat warnings for 71 UK regions, with temperatures predicted to rocket to a sweltering 35°C in the coming days. The updated weather alerts come as another scorching heatwave is set to sweep across the UK, kicking off this weekend and carrying on into next week.

The weather warnings come into force at 1am on Monday (June 22) and will conclude at 11.59pm on Tuesday (June 23). The Met Office has warned that a "developing hot spell through Monday and Tuesday will likely lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure."

The Met Office has extended the Amber extreme heat warning to include eastern Wales and much of the Midlands, alongside most of southern England and southeastern Wales. Forecasters have also ramped up their temperature predictions, with peaks of 35°C anticipated on Tuesday and Wednesday and growing confidence that the UK's June temperature record of 35.6°C, set in Southampton in 1976, could be toppled.

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What to Expect

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates said: "While heatwave criteria will be met for some in the south and southeast of England over the weekend, with temperatures into the low 30s Celsius possible, the warmth will expand and intensify at the start of next week, which, coupled with high temperatures overnight and high humidity, leads to potential impacts."

Temperatures are forecast to reach 32°C on Monday, climbing further to 35°C on Tuesday and Wednesday. "By Thursday temperatures are currently forecast to drop slightly, with a peak of 34°C more confined to the southeast of England. Importantly high humidity will also mean this feels close, warmer and more uncomfortable for many."

"Tropical nights, where the temperature doesn't drop below 20°C are also likely for some, especially in urban areas," Keates added.

Health Alerts and Thunderstorms

The Met Office has stated that heatwave conditions are anticipated to continue well into next week and extend across many other regions of England and Wales, with the amber warning likely to be updated as confidence in the length of the hot spell grows. There's also a possibility of isolated thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday, although forecasters predict these will be localised and the hot conditions will persist.

The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a series of Yellow and Amber Heat Health Alerts, which specifically highlight the potential health and social care impacts. The warmth also brings with it the risk of some thundery downpours for some on Monday and Tuesday for a time, though these are forecast to be isolated in nature.

The exception for the hot conditions is further to the northwest in the coming days, which will see more near-average temperatures through the weekend and the return of more unsettled weather on Tuesday. The current highest temperature on record for June is 35.6°C and there remains a chance of this figure being challenged next week.