Overview
- The Met Office has extended amber extreme-heat warnings across much of southern and central England and Wales and has issued red warnings for Wednesday and Thursday indicating an exceptional spell of hot humid weather.
- Forecasters now predict widespread daytime highs of 35–38°C with tropical nights above 20°C and a small chance temperatures could approach 40°C, raising growing confidence the June record of 35.6°C may be broken.
- The UK Health Security Agency has activated amber and yellow heat-health alerts to warn of higher illness and increased demand on health and social care, especially for older people and those with medical conditions.
- Authorities and service providers warn the heat could disrupt road, rail and air travel, strain power and water systems, and the RNLI and other bodies caution that more people entering cold open water will raise the risk of cold-water shock and drowning.
- Scientists say a continental 'heat dome' is driving the event and that human-caused climate change has made such extremes more likely, prompting calls for immediate precautions like hydration and avoiding peak sun plus long-term cooling and infrastructure upgrades.