The UK is in the grip of its third heatwave of the year, with temperatures set to climb as high as 35C in parts of southern England later this week, the Met Office has warned. Monday’s highest reading was 34C in Teddington, south-west London, while Heathrow saw 33.3C and Kew Gardens 32.7C. The hot spell follows a record-breaking June, when the mercury hit 37.7C – beating the previous June record from 1976 – and brought “tropical nights” where temperatures stayed above 20C.
The Met Office’s deputy chief forecaster, Steven Keates, said: “Parts of the UK are entering heatwave conditions: the third heatwave in the UK so far this year. However, unlike the May and June heatwaves, we are not expecting this heatwave to be record-breaking. Temperatures this week are not expected to reach the highs we witnessed last month, though parts of southern England in particular are likely to see several days in the low 30s, and a few places could reach 34-35C later this week.”
“UK's third heatwave could hit 35C, with amber health alerts for Midlands and southern England.”
Amber heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the Midlands and southern England from 9am on Wednesday until 9pm on Sunday. The agency warned of significant impacts on health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Yellow heat health alerts have also been issued for Yorkshire and northern England for the same period, with possible impacts including an increase in water-related incidents such as cold water shock and drowning.
The north-south divide that saw cloudier conditions in Scotland and northern England during the first half of the week is expected to narrow, with the north set for a warmer spell while the south continues to heat up. By the weekend, conditions are likely to become increasingly humid up north, bringing a growing risk of showers or isolated thunderstorms. The very warm conditions are expected to last into the weekend, with next week likely to see a slight downturn in temperatures, though many areas will remain dry, fine and still warm.
National Rail Enquiries has urged train passengers to check for updates over the coming days due to the heatwave, as tracks and overhead wires can be affected. The Met Office also warned that England could experience tropical nights later this week. With the third heatwave already underway, the question remains whether the country can cope with another prolonged spell of extreme heat, especially for the most vulnerable.