The UK is bracing for scorching temperatures as the Met Office issues a new warning for extreme heat, potentially reaching up to 40C. The heatwave is attributed to a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe, causing intense conditions across the continent.
The Met Office has placed red warnings for today and Thursday, along with an additional amber warning for Friday in eastern and central England. Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesperson, mentioned the possibility of further updates as the forecast evolves.
The amber alert covers a significant portion of England, extending from central to southern and eastern regions, reaching as far north as Manchester. It will be in effect from midnight on Thursday for 24 hours. Weather forecasts predict temperatures exceeding 30 Celsius during the day, with peaks of up to 38 Celsius in eastern and central England, accompanied by high humidity.
Furthermore, a red weather warning for extreme heat covering a vast area from London to Swansea and the south coast to Birmingham has been enforced until Thursday evening. The heatwave might challenge the UK’s all-time high temperature of 40.3C recorded in Lincolnshire in July 2022, and is expected to surpass the June record of 35.6C set in Hampshire in 1976.
The combination of extreme heat and humidity could pose risks to public health, infrastructure, and essential services like power and water supply, affecting various sectors such as transport, energy, and water management. The Met Office also anticipates a rise in water safety incidents as more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes, or rivers during the heatwave.
According to BBC weather forecaster Chris Fawkes, the June temperature record is likely to be broken, with highs reaching around 37C to 38C. Overnight temperatures remained above 20C in many areas, with locations like Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and Heathrow in west London not dropping below 22.3C and 22.1C, respectively.