The Met Office issued a rare amber weather warning for extreme heat covering parts of England on Thursday, where temperatures could reach 38C, according to BBC News.
The warning runs from 0900 BST until midnight Thursday, when forecasters expect the current heatwave to hit its peak. The highest temperatures are expected across parts of the east, south-east, and Midlands, and officials say the heat may affect transport, infrastructure, and public health.
If temperatures do reach 38C, it would equal the highest temperature recorded in England this year, which was 38C at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 26. The last time temperatures exceeded 36C in August was 2020, when 36.4C was recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat health alerts covering the whole of England, in place until Friday evening. The agency warns that significant impacts are likely across social and health care, including a rise in deaths. Heat health alerts are designed to warn both the public and medical professionals when periods of extreme temperature pose a threat to health.
Conditions are expected to build steadily through the week. On Tuesday, the hottest weather was concentrated around east Wales, the Midlands, and central parts of southern England, with temperatures ranging from 27 to 30C. Wednesday is forecast to bring more widespread heat, with temperatures above 30C in an area stretching from South Yorkshire to east Wales and across much of England.
By Thursday and Friday, the most extreme heat is expected in the Midlands, eastern, and south-east England, with some areas potentially hitting 37 or 38C.
The heatwave arrives as drought officials reported that 71.3 percent of England is now in drought. It has been an unusually warm summer overall, with temperatures staying above average for most of the season. Even during cooler spells, temperatures have only dropped to near the seasonal average rather than below it.
The Met Office warning remains in effect through Thursday night.
