The Met Office has issued a rare red alert for extreme heat as temperatures in the UK are set to soar, with highs of 38C to 40C expected in some areas of southern England. The warning will be in place on Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures are predicted to peak.
Current Heat Alerts
In addition to the red alert, amber alerts are in effect for southern England, parts of Wales, and the Midlands from today until Thursday night. Forecasters anticipate that June's all-time daily temperature record of 35.6°C, recorded in Southampton in June 1976, will be broken during this period.
The Met Office stated that areas under the red warning are likely to experience a two to three day period where maximum temperatures in the shade exceed 37°C, possibly rising to 38°C to 40°C in some locations. The alert warns of significant disruption to daily life and urges the public to take precautions and adapt routines to cope with these extreme temperatures.
Temperature Forecast by Day
On Monday, temperatures are forecast to reach 34°C in southern parts of England, with a chance of thundery showers. The heat intensifies on Tuesday, with highs of 37°C expected in southern England and 35°C in southeast Wales. The heatwave is expected to peak on Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures climbing to at least 39°C, possibly higher. Friday remains hot but slightly cooler, with highs of 32°C in the south.
Definition of a Heatwave
A heatwave is defined as temperatures reaching a certain threshold for at least three consecutive days, with the threshold varying by region. For London, Surrey, Hertfordshire, and Berkshire, the threshold is 28°C. In Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Essex, and Kent, it is 27°C. Somerset, Dorset, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and South Yorkshire have a threshold of 26°C, while Merseyside, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and areas further north, including all of Scotland, have a threshold of 25°C. Forecasters expect most UK areas to reach these thresholds in the coming days.
Duration of the Heatwave
The second heatwave of the year is set to continue for much of the week, but temperatures are expected to ease by the weekend. The Met Office noted: "High pressure is forecast to gradually move to the east on Friday and through the weekend, which will ease temperatures slightly, though those in the southeast will retain the exceptional warmth the longest." Friday may see some rain and cloud arrive from the west, particularly in the northwest, and the weekend will transition to a more westerly influence, with temperatures dropping towards the high 20s Celsius on Saturday and further on Sunday and into next week. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued heat health alerts for every area of England, currently set to expire at 11pm on Thursday.
