Third Day of Red Heat Warning Issued for First Time Ever

A Red Warning for Extreme Heat has been issued for Friday – the first time ever there’s been a red warning for three consecutive days in the UK.

The Met Office warning, which extends from Kent to Oxford and Winchester to Brighton, will impact millions of people across London, the Home Counties and the South East.

Andy Page, Met Office Chief Meteorologist said: “This exceptional spell of hot and humid weather will maintain its grip on the UK for a little longer.

“We are expecting that some daytime maximum temperatures could exceed 36°C, perhaps rising to 37°C in some locations.”

The daytime heat will be accompanied by high humidity, leading to uncomfortably warm, humid nights, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts.

Andy Page added: “Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should make every effort to adapt their daily routines to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK.”

Stay Safe in Heat

The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a series of Heat Health Alerts.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, at UKHSA said: “It is vitally important that people understand the risk posed by high temperatures like these.

“A red heat health alert indicates a risk to life for even the healthy population, but simple actions like staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool can make a big difference.”

When Will the Heatwave End?

The far east and southeast of England will stay warm the longest, though it will slowly start cooling by Saturday, with peaks around 32°C likely.

Next week, with a westerly influence on the UK’s weather, there will be a return to more average temperatures for the time of year and a mixture of winds and rain, particularly for those in the northwest.

>>Read more about staying safe in extreme hot weather