The UK has been plunged into a prolonged heatwave, with southern England bracing itself for potentially record-breaking temperatures. On Wednesday afternoon, Wisley in Surrey recorded a sizzling 36.0C, smashing the previous June high of 35.6C set in 1957 and equalled in 1976.
The Met Office has extended its red extreme heat warning to cover parts of southern England, the Midlands, and south Wales, with forecasters predicting temperatures could soar to as high as 37C or 38C in some areas – albeit falling short of the UK's all-time record of 40.3C set in 2022.
Wales is experiencing an unprecedented event, with this being its first-ever red warning for extreme heat. The Met Office has only issued such severe warnings twice before in the UK.
While the most intense heat is expected to be concentrated in the south, high humidity levels will make conditions feel even more sweltering elsewhere – potentially pushing temperatures up into the low 40s Celsius.
The prolonged heatwave presents significant challenges for residents, with an amber warning for extreme heat set to cover a wider area of England from Friday. A separate amber warning will then cover the east and south-east of England on Saturday, indicating that the high temperatures are likely to persist into the weekend.
Residents in affected areas are urged to take precautions to stay safe and hydrated, including drinking plenty of water, avoiding strenuous activity during peak heat hours (11 am to 3 pm), and seeking shade. It is also crucial to check on vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly and young children.
The unusual warmth will not be limited to daytime hours – overnight conditions are expected to remain unusually warm, with several locations unlikely to see temperatures drop below 20C. This could lead to a record-breaking 'tropical night', where minimum temperatures across Wales, the Midlands, and south-east England do not fall below 21C to 23C.