Amber weather alert issued for UK as European 'heat dome' due to push temperatures to 34C
Across parts of Spain, France and Italy, temperatures are expected to rise into the high 30s and low 40s.
A week-long UK heatwave has been forecast with temperatures due to hit 34C.
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The UK Health and Security Agency has issued several amber heat alerts for parts of southern England.
Meteorologists have said there is a 40 per cent chance of beating the all-time June UK record of 35.6C, just three weeks after a new all-time high for May of 35.1C was set.
Amber heat alerts have been issued for the East of England, London, the South East and the South West from 10am today until June 23 at 8pm.
People aged 65 or older and those with health conditions are being told to take extra care in the heat and there are warnings not to attempt to swim in open water unsupervised.
According to the Met Office, across parts of Spain, France and Italy, temperatures are expected to rise into the high 30s, with some locations likely to exceed 40C during the coming days.
The soaring temperatures are being driven by a strong area of high pressure building over continental Europe - described as a 'heat dome'.
This high pressure is promoting widespread sinking air, which suppresses cloud formation, the Met Office says, which allows for prolonged sunshine, and leads to increasing temperatures through compressional heating.
In some parts of mainland Europe, temperatures could reach around 10C above average for mid-June.
Read more: Heatwave on the way as Brits to bask in 30C heat as parts of UK set to be hotter than Barbados
The heat is building across Europe this week due to persistent high pressure🌡️
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 17, 2026
Maximum temperatures could reach around 40°C in parts of Spain, France and Italy over the weekend
Minimum temperatures will not fall much below 20°C, leading to some tropical nights pic.twitter.com/vr5TnhqeaE
While Europe heats up, the Met Office predicts the UK will experience a more complex and variable pattern.
Heatwave conditions are forecast for parts of the UK this weekend as temperatures rise, with some areas set to be hotter than Barbados.
A heatwave is defined as three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.
Some areas in the south and south-east of England are likely to see heatwave criteria met by Saturday and more widely on Sunday, as 32C could be hit in the warmest locations.
The threshold varies in each county, between 25C across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of the south-west of England, and 28C in London and its surrounding counties.
The eastern Caribbean island of Barbados is set to see temperatures fluctuate between 26C and 30C on Sunday, according to the forecaster.
The south and south-east of England could get even hotter on Monday, potentially reaching 33C in some areas.
Alongside the warmth later this week, there will be spells of rain, especially across northern and western areas, and a slight chance of thunderstorms across south-eastern England.
A yellow heat health alert was issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the East Midlands, the East of England, London and the south-east of England from 3pm on Wednesday, and will remain in place until 8pm on Monday June 22.
According to the UKHSA website, a yellow heat health alert means there is likely to be a “greater risk to life of vulnerable people” and an “increased use of healthcare services” by this same demographic.
There is also an “increased potential for indoor environments to become very warm” and a likely rise in water‑related incidents, including “risks from cold water shock and drowning”.