A four-day amber extreme heat warning has begun across England and Wales, with temperatures forecast to reach 38C (100F) – and potentially 39C in London – threatening to break the June record of 35.6C set in 1976. The Met Office warning, which runs until 23:59 BST Thursday, means population-wide health impacts are likely, including serious risks to vulnerable groups and the wider public.
The heat is spreading from continental Europe, where western France could see 43-44C and Paris may hit an unprecedented 40C for June. On Sunday, an official heatwave was declared at Writtle, near Chelmsford, Essex, after three consecutive days above the threshold of 27C. Overnight temperatures are also forecast to remain unusually high, with some urban areas struggling to fall below 20-21C – so-called tropical nights.
“Amber heat warning begins as UK faces 39C temperatures; London issues air pollution alert.”
In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan issued a severe air pollution alert for Monday, warning that ‘hot, sunny weather and pollution from continental Europe are expected to raise ozone levels’. He urged Londoners to ‘reduce car journeys and avoid engine idling’ to protect vulnerable people. The capital and much of southern and central England are under the amber heat warning, with the mercury expected to reach 38C by Tuesday and stay there until Thursday, potentially beating the 1976 record of 35.6C reached in Southampton and Camden Square.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge warned that spells of extreme weather were becoming ‘more frequent’ due to climate change. ‘That’s unfortunately just the way things are going at the moment and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down,’ he said.
Schools across the UK are preparing for the heat, with no official closures announced but growing pressure on the government to introduce a legal maximum classroom temperature. The Climate Change Committee and the Trades Union Congress have backed calls for a limit. The Department for Education said it is ‘carefully considering’ proposals, but current guidance states schools should remain open, arguing regular attendance gives pupils the best opportunity to learn. ‘During the hottest days, teachers can barely teach, let alone students learn,’ said ‘Daniel’, a deputy head of a London secondary school, quoted in the i newspaper. ‘My staff say it’s really hard to function properly.’
The Met Office warned of adverse health effects including sunburn and heat exhaustion, and said heat-sensitive equipment and systems could fail, leading to potential power cuts. High UV and pollen levels are also anticipated. Separate amber heat health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency cover most of England from Monday morning until Friday night.