The Met Office has extended an amber weather warning for extreme heat by 12 hours, with hot and humid conditions expected to persist overnight. The warning covers the East Midlands, East of England, London, and South East England until 9am on Sunday.
Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 33°C in parts of England on Saturday, with London and East Anglia peaking around 32-33°C. Overnight, temperatures are unlikely to fall below the high teens, and some areas may not drop below 20°C. The Met Office noted that fresher conditions will gradually arrive from the west during the latter part of the night.
This follows the hottest June day ever recorded in the UK, with 37.3°C measured in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Friday. The record was broken for the third consecutive day. Thunderstorms and lightning struck the southeast overnight, bringing 15-20mm of rain in less than an hour.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat health alert for all of England until Sunday morning, warning of potential impacts on health and social care services. Officials cautioned about a possible rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with pre-existing health conditions, as well as risks to younger age groups.
Scientists have criticised politicians for failing to grasp the severity of the climate crisis. Professor Friederike Otto of Imperial College London commented: "Our first 40°C day was supposed to be a wake-up call, but clearly someone hit snooze," referring to the UK's previous 40°C record in 2022. The Met Office has forecast that temperatures could hit 40°C for only the second time since records began.
