Britain is preparing for its fourth heatwave of the summer as temperatures are forecast to reach a sweltering 34C (93F) on Tuesday, prompting the UK Health Security Agency to upgrade heat health alerts to amber across five regions of England.
The Met Office confirmed that central and southern England will bear the brunt of the extreme heat, with temperatures expected to exceed official heatwave criteria for at least three consecutive days. London and the Midlands are set to experience the most intense conditions, whilst Scotland and Northern Ireland will see more moderate temperatures in the low 20s.
“High pressure from the Atlantic will lead to a build in temperatures over the coming days, with heatwave criteria reached by the weekend,” said Neil Armstrong, Met Office Chief Meteorologist. “This hot spell is forecast to last longer and cover a broader area than previous ones so far this summer.”
The UKHSA has issued yellow heat health alerts for all of England from Tuesday morning until Wednesday evening, with amber alerts in place for London, the South East, East of England, East Midlands and West Midlands. Under the Weather-Health Alert system, an amber alert means weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, with significant impacts on health and social care services expected.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, warned that even moderate heat can result in serious health outcomes. “We have already seen warm weather across the week, and temperatures are set to increase in the coming days, exceeding 30°C in many areas.”
The heatwave comes as extreme temperatures continue to grip much of Europe. The French city of Nîmes recorded its highest ever August temperature on Sunday at 41.8C (107F), whilst red extreme heat warnings remain in place across south-west France through Monday and Tuesday.
“Some of that hot and humid air to our south will gradually spread north across the UK over the coming days,” explained Tony Wisson, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office.
Monday will see temperatures climbing into the mid to high 20s across England and Wales, with the London area forecast to reach around 30C. By Tuesday, the warmth will become more intense and widespread as the heatwave reaches its peak, with most of the UK recording temperatures between 24C and 30C.
The scorching conditions are not expected to break the UK’s hottest day of 2025, which stands at 35.8C (96F) recorded on 1 July in Faversham, Kent. However, meteorologists warn that Wednesday will remain another hot day for many, with heatwave criteria likely holding on across central and eastern parts of England, east Wales and eastern Scotland.
“These findings highlight the need to prepare and plan for the impacts of rising temperatures now, so we can better protect public health, infrastructure, and the environment from the growing threat of extreme heat,” said Dr Nick Dunstone, Met Office Science Fellow.
The nights will also prove uncomfortable, with the possibility of tropical nights in southern England where temperatures may not fall below 20C. This minimal relief overnight significantly exacerbates the impact of heatwaves, particularly in urban areas where heat island effects can lead to even higher local temperatures.
Data from UKHSA reveals the deadly impact of even moderate heat. During four heat episodes in 2024, there were 1,311 heat-associated deaths in England, despite only yellow alerts being issued. The highest mortality rates were seen in people aged 85 years and over, followed by those aged 75 to 84 years.
“Older people, babies and young children are more likely to be unwell from hot weather because their bodies are less able to regulate temperature,” health officials stressed.
The prolonged dry conditions have already taken their toll across England. Spring 2025 was the UK’s warmest and sunniest on record, with June becoming the warmest June ever recorded in England. Many parts of eastern Wales and England have received less than 30 per cent of their average summer rainfall, prompting drought declarations and hosepipe bans in several regions.
Environmental think tank Green Alliance warned that the UK is “clearly unprepared for rising extreme temperatures” and urged the government to take more decisive action to address the growing health risks posed by climate change.
By Thursday and Friday, whilst most places will see temperatures in the low to mid 20s, southern England could record further heatwave days. The Met Office predicts that after a brief slightly cooler interlude over the weekend, high pressure will build again through next week, meaning an often dry and warm theme continuing for at least the next 10 days.
Showers are forecast to become more widespread and thundery late on Wednesday and overnight into Thursday, especially for central and eastern England as well as Scotland. However, as is typical with summer showers, many places will miss them altogether, offering little relief to drought-stricken areas.
Met Office scientists have recently published research showing that the chance of exceeding 40C in the UK is accelerating at pace. The study reveals that conditions similar to the famous hot summer of 1976, which had more than a fortnight above 28C, could now persist for a month or more in today’s climate.
Health officials are urging the public to take precautions during the heatwave, including staying hydrated, keeping out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, and checking on vulnerable neighbours, particularly elderly people who live alone and those with underlying health conditions.
As Britain swelters through another extreme heat event, the message from climate scientists is clear: these periods of extreme heat are expected to become more frequent, prolonged, and intense due to global warming, requiring a coordinated public health response even during less severe heat events to protect those most at risk.
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