The Met Office has extended its rare red extreme heat warning, now covering additional areas including the south coast, as temperatures could reach an unprecedented 40°C. The warning, initially in force from Wednesday to Thursday evening, now lasts until 11.59pm on Thursday, with the alert stating that maximum temperatures in the shade may exceed 37°C, rising to 38-40°C in some places.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red heat health alert across six English regions, indicating a risk to life even for the young and healthy. High humidity and 'Tropical Nights'—where urban temperatures remain above 20°C—are exacerbating health risks, preventing effective cooling and recovery overnight.
Professor Stephen Belcher, Met Office Chief Scientist, said: 'To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Human-induced climate change has made events like this more likely and more intense.' Significant disruption is expected across transport, education, and utilities, with Network Rail urging passengers to avoid non-essential travel in warning zones due to risks of rail buckles.
Schools are closing early or cancelling sports days, while water and electricity companies are on alert for potential outages due to surging demand and heat-related infrastructure strain. Emergency services have reported a rise in water-related accidents as people seek to cool off in unmonitored waters.
