The Met Office has extended its amber extreme heat warning to four days, from Monday to Thursday, with forecasts suggesting temperatures could reach 38C (100F) in parts of England – a figure that would break the current June record of 35.6C, set in Southampton in 1976. The updated warning, in force from 01:00 BST Monday until 23:59 BST Thursday, reflects “growing confidence” that exceptionally hot and humid conditions will persist through the middle of the week, the forecaster said.
Large swathes of England and Wales are covered, though more northerly areas are only under the warning on Wednesday and Thursday. Daytime temperatures are expected to exceed 30C widely, with the hottest locations potentially reaching around 38C. Overnight temperatures are also forecast to remain unusually high, with some urban areas struggling to fall below 20 or 21C, resulting in so-called tropical nights.
“Met Office extends amber extreme heat warning to four days as temperatures could reach 38C, breaking June record.”
The heat is spreading from continental Europe, where an extremely intense hot spell has developed. In parts of western France, temperatures could climb to 43 or 44C, and Paris is likely to reach 40C, which would be unprecedented for June. In France, alcohol has been banned at state-run events in 35 of its 101 departments – including Paris – to prevent deaths from dehydration, and events for the country’s annual Fete De La Musique have been called off.
The Met Office said the warning means population-wide impacts are likely, including serious health risks, disruption to daily routines and increased pressure on infrastructure. Adverse health effects are expected not only among vulnerable groups but across the wider population. Substantial changes to working practices and daily routines may be required, and heat-sensitive systems and equipment could be affected.
A series of amber heat health alerts have also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the South East, East of England, London, the Midlands and the South West, starting Monday and continuing until 11pm Wednesday. UKHSA also issued yellow alerts for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and The Humber, warning of a greater risk to the lives of vulnerable people.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “Sustained periods of warm weather can result in serious health outcomes, especially for older adults, and it is therefore important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.” He urged health and social care services in affected regions to prepare, and reminded people to look out for elderly relatives, neighbours and those with underlying health conditions.
The weekend has already seen crowds gather at Stonehenge for the summer solstice in baking heat, with Saturday hitting 27.7C. On Sunday, London and the South East could reach 32C, hotter than Ibiza. The heatwave threshold – which varies from 25-28C depending on the county – is likely to be met for three consecutive days, officially making it a heatwave. High UV and pollen levels are anticipated in many places, and water safety is a particular concern after more than a dozen teenagers died in a heatwave the previous month.