UK braces for record-breaking heatwave as red warnings issued
Britain’s hottest spell of the year could top 39C, with June’s daily record at risk and red alerts now covering much of England.
A red extreme heat warning is set to hit England as forecasters brace for the peak of the spell on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures could climb to around 39C in parts of southern England, with locally higher values possible, putting pressure on health services, transport and the power system.
The Met Office has put a red warning in place for Wednesday and Thursday, while amber extreme heat warnings will run from Monday through Thursday across parts of central and southern England and Wales. Forecasters said June’s all-time daily record temperature could be broken, a sign of how severe the incoming heat is expected to be.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued red heat-health alerts for six regions of England: the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London and the East of England. In London, the alert runs from 5pm on 23 June 2026 until 3pm on 25 June 2026. UKHSA said the warnings signal severe impacts across health and social care services, an increased risk to life and the possibility of infrastructure failures, including power outages.
The warning comes after an unusually hot late-May spell that pushed the UK to a new May temperature record of 35.1C at Kew Gardens. The country’s all-time high remains 38.7C, set in July 2019, but Met Office scientists have said the chance of exceeding 40C in the UK is rising rapidly. That makes this week’s forecast more than a weather event: it is a test of how well a wealthy country’s hospitals, emergency response and public services can cope as extreme heat becomes more common.
The Health and Safety Executive has told employers to plan for and support workers during extreme heat, a reminder that the burden will not fall evenly. London Fire Brigade has warned of wildfire and water safety risks, while Transport for London has advised passengers to check travel updates because major works and events could affect journeys. As the heat builds toward midweek, the strain will be measured not only in thermometers but in disrupted services, unsafe work and pressure on the infrastructure people rely on every day.
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