Amber health alerts as temperatures set to hit 34C

Temperatures have been rising and are set to continue doing so, with the fourth heatwave of the summer on the way. The UK Health Security Agency has issued heat health warnings for all of England, beginning on Tuesday morning and lasting until Wednesday. On Monday, five areas of England had their health alerts upgraded from yellow to amber, indicating that travel disruption or increased demand for health services could arise. The hottest weather in central and southern England is expected to exceed official heatwave thresholds for at least three consecutive days, with temperatures potentially peaking at 34°C (93°F) on Tuesday.

Where is the heat coming from, and will it be hot everywhere?

Extreme heat has already been building across central Europe, including Spain, Portugal, and France, as high pressure dominates. On Sunday, the French city of Nîmes recorded its highest-ever August temperature at 41.8°C (107°F). Extreme heat warnings remain in force for south-west France from Monday into Tuesday.

Over the coming days, some of the hot and humid air to our south will gradually spread northwards across the UK. On Monday, many parts of England and Wales will see temperatures in the mid to high 20s°C, with the London area expected to reach around 30°C. Scotland and Northern Ireland will remain cooler, with highs in the low 20s°C.

As the heatwave reaches its peak on Tuesday, the warmth will become more widespread. Most of the UK will experience temperatures between 24°C and 30°C, with the hottest weather in London and the Midlands, where highs could reach 34°C (93°F). However, it is not expected to surpass the UK’s hottest day of 2025 so far, recorded at 35.8°C (96°F) in Faversham, Kent, on 1 July.

Wednesday will still be hot for many, though slightly cooler than Tuesday due to a shift in wind direction. Heatwave conditions are expected to persist across central and eastern England, east Wales, and eastern Scotland. Yellow heat health warnings will be in force for the whole of England from Tuesday morning until Wednesday evening, with amber alerts for London, the South East, East of England, East Midlands, and West Midlands.

As well as hot and humid days in the first half of the week, nights will also be warm. In southern England, there is a chance of one or two “tropical nights”, when temperatures do not fall below 20°C. While most areas will see night-time temperatures in the low to mid 20s°C, southern England could experience higher temperatures on Thursday and Friday if the heatwave lingers.

How long will the heatwave last?

It currently appears that temperatures in most areas will dip just below heatwave levels by the weekend. However, after a short cooler spell, high pressure is likely to build again next week. This means a typically dry and warm pattern is expected for at least the next ten days.

Some cooler and wetter spells may occur, especially in the north and west, but temperatures in the south are still likely to remain above average. For mid-August, average maximum temperatures range from 16°C in the north to 22°C in the south, but some regions — particularly southern England — may still experience unusually high heat. You can check the latest long-range forecast for the remainder of the summer in our monthly outlook.

Is there any rain on the way?

With drought conditions and hosepipe bans still in force in several parts of England, many are hoping for rainfall to ease the situation. While there is some rain in the forecast, it is not expected to be widespread or persistent, meaning it will be hit-and-miss in terms of where it falls.

During the day, Scotland and Northern Ireland may see some patchy rain, with a few isolated showers in southern England and Wales overnight. Showers are expected to become more widespread and potentially thundery late on Wednesday and into Thursday, particularly in central and eastern England as well as parts of Scotland. However, many areas are likely to miss these showers entirely.