Temperatures in south-east England have exceeded 36C on what is anticipated to be the hottest day of the current heatwave. The Met Office reported that temperatures reached 37.6C at Charlwood in Surrey by midday on Thursday, with Wisley recording 37.2C.
Vikki Lewis from the South East Coast Ambulance Service stated that they have observed an increase in people reporting signs of heat exhaustion, feeling faint, and collapses. This has led to a rise in demand for their services.
According to the Met Office, this marks the ninth day in 2026 that temperatures have been above 35C, extending the year's record. Temperatures are also expected to reach 38C in parts of England on Thursday, which would make it the hottest day of 2026 so far, surpassing the 38C recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk, in June.
Firefighters in East Sussex responded to multiple field fires, with one blaze near Ringmer spreading across two fields and a hedge. Matt Gamblen, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's wildfires tactical advisor, urged the public to be extra careful to prevent fires during the hot weather, including not leaving vehicle engines running on grass.
An amber warning for extreme heat is in place for a large area between Sheffield and London, including Birmingham, Oxford, and Peterborough, from 09:00 BST to 23:59 on Thursday. Much of the country, including all of the South East, has also been declared officially in a drought.