Parts of the UK could reach 38C this week, prompting the UKHSA to issue amber heat health alerts covering most of England from Monday morning until Friday night, with a yellow alert also in place for the North East. The Met Office has separately declared its most serious amber extreme heat alert in four years – the last was in August 2022 – affecting Wales, the Midlands and the south of England.
The Met Office warning runs from 1am on Monday June 22 to 23:59pm on Tuesday June 23, during which temperatures are expected to reach around 34°C, though officials say there is "a chance" some locations could see even greater heat. The UKHSA alert is in place from 11am on Monday until 11pm on Wednesday June 24, with temperatures forecast to soar to 38C.
“UK faces record 38C heat as rare amber health alerts issued for England and Wales”
Officials have cautioned that the hot spell will have a "widespread impact" on both the population and infrastructure. The alert states: "The wider population are likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion and other heat related illnesses." Minor impacts are also likely across health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life for the same group, while water-related incidents such as drowning may rise.
The Met Office warned of potential transport disruptions and possible power cuts or failures in heat-sensitive systems, adding: "Some changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required." The NHS notes that dehydration symptoms differ between children and adults, and if left untreated can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure affecting the kidneys, brain and heart.
To stay cool, the Met Office advises keeping curtains closed during the day, staying indoors during peak heat, and if you must go outside, taking water and staying in the shade, using sun cream and wearing a broad-brimmed hat. Meanwhile, Europe is also sweltering under the heatwave, with temperatures forecast to hit 37C in Rome and 39C in Madrid on Monday, while France expects highs of more than 40C with emergency services and military forces on wildfire alert.