An amber extreme heat warning has been issued by the Met Office as temperatures are expected to reach 34C on Monday.
Following a warm weekend, parts of southern and eastern England are likely to experience a heatwave. Temperatures are forecasted to hit 28C on Saturday in some southern regions, rising to 32C on Sunday.
Monday is set to see temperatures soar to 34C, with similar conditions expected on Tuesday, reaching the mid-30s. The Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning covering London, the east and south-east of England, and parts of the south-west of England and Wales for both days.
There is a 40% chance of surpassing the highest-ever June temperature of 35.6C set in 1957 and 1976, according to the Met Office.
Certain areas may experience temperatures above 20C overnight on Monday and Tuesday, especially in urban areas.
Amber heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for the east, south-east, and south-west of England, including London, until 8 pm on Tuesday.
Greg Wolverson, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, stated that the heatwave criteria would be met in the south and south-east of England over the weekend, with temperatures possibly reaching the low 30s. He warned of increasing warmth and intensity at the beginning of the following week, leading to potential impacts due to high temperatures overnight, making it feel warmer and more uncomfortable, with the likelihood of tropical nights where temperatures do not drop below 20C.
The hot spell might also bring isolated thundery downpours on Monday and Tuesday, as per the Met Office.
This comes after the Met Office’s three-month summer outlook for June to August, indicating a higher likelihood of a hot summer than normal and warning of potential heatwave conditions.
England and Wales saw their warmest spring on record, with the UK registering its highest May temperature to date – 35.1C at Kew Gardens in London. Unfortunately, at least 15 fatalities were reported due to incidents in open water during the hot weather.
Samantha Hughes, national water safety partner at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, emphasized the importance of being cautious as warmer weather approaches, highlighting the risk of cold water shock when unexpectedly entering cold water.
A climate attribution study published by Met Office scientists last summer revealed that the likelihood of exceeding temperature records has significantly increased due to the climate crisis. Breaking the previous May temperature record is now around three times more likely in today’s climate, compared to a natural climate unaffected by greenhouse gas emissions, with such events estimated to occur roughly once every 33 years.