Extreme heat warning extended as record temperatures expected in parts of England and Wales

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The meteorological service said the hot spell through Monday and Tuesday will likely lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.

They added very high temperatures, accompanied by high humidity, are expected on Monday and especially Tuesday.

In addition to high daytime maxima, temperatures overnight will remain very warm, especially in larger urban areas.

Temperatures could reach the low to mid-30s on Monday and into the mid-30s Celsius more widely on Tuesday while overnight some places, particularly in urban areas, may see temperatures remain above 20 Celsius.

The warning, which differs from amber heat health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), comes as another heatwave is expected to sweep parts of the UK during the weekend and early next week.

When is the heat expected?

The warning currently covers the whole of Monday and Tuesday and is expected to be updated as the week progresses.

Peak temperatures are forecast to reach 35°C on Tuesday and Wednesday. There is also growing confidence that the current UK June temperature record of 35.6°C, recorded in Southampton in June 1976, could be broken.

Impacts of the heat

The Amber Extreme Heat Warning highlights potential health impacts for vulnerable people, as well as heat-related issues affecting the wider population and sectors including transport, energy and water supply.

There is also an increased likelihood of water-related incidents, as more people visit beaches, rivers and lakes during the hot weather.

The exception to the hot conditions will be further north-west, where temperatures are expected to remain closer to average through the weekend. More unsettled weather is also forecast to return there from Tuesday.

How long will the heatwave last?

High temperatures are expected to persist throughout much of next week, particularly across south-east England.

There remains some uncertainty over how long the hottest conditions will continue, as increasing cloud cover and the risk of thunderstorms could affect temperatures.

Forecast confidence is expected to improve closer to the time, and further weather warnings may be issued if necessary.

Further north-west, conditions are expected to be cooler and cloudier, with occasional spells of light rain moving through at times.

Regions and local authorities affected:

East Midlands
Derby
Derbyshire
Leicester
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Northamptonshire
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
Rutland

East of England
Bedford
Cambridgeshire
Central Bedfordshire
Essex
Hertfordshire
Luton
Norfolk
Peterborough
Southend-on-Sea
Suffolk
Thurrock

London & South East England
Bracknell Forest
Brighton and Hove
Buckinghamshire
East Sussex
Greater London
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Kent
Medway
Milton Keynes
Oxfordshire
Portsmouth
Reading
Slough
Southampton
Surrey
West Berkshire
West Sussex
Windsor and Maidenhead
Wokingham

South West England
Bath and North East Somerset
Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
Bristol
Devon
Dorset
Gloucestershire
North Somerset
Somerset
South Gloucestershire
Swindon
Wiltshire

Wales
Blaenau Gwent
Bridgend
Caerphilly
Cardiff
Merthyr Tydfil
Monmouthshire
Neath Port Talbot
Newport
Powys
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Torfaen
Vale of Glamorgan

West Midlands
Herefordshire
Shropshire
Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent
Telford and Wrekin
Warwickshire
West Midlands Conurbation
Worcestershire