The Met Office issued further Amber extreme heat warnings for Friday and Saturday on 24 June 2026, which it said gradually shift further to the east of southern and central England with time1. A Red extreme heat warning came into force at 0900 on Wednesday morning and will last through to late on Thursday night, embedded within a wider Amber warning area covering much of England and Wales through Wednesday and Thursday1.
Temperatures will exceed 30°C for many on Wednesday and Thursday, with a peak of around 37°C possible on Wednesday and 38°C on Thursday and Friday, though there is still a chance of this being exceeded1. The existing UK June daily air temperature record of 35.6°C, reached on 28 June 1976 and 29 June 1957, is very likely to be exceeded in the coming days1. Wales has already provisionally seen its overnight temperature on record for the month, with 20.3°C the lowest figure reached at St Athan, South Glamorgan on Monday night1. A Yellow Thunderstorm Warning has also been issued, highlighting the chance of sudden gusty winds around 50mph being possible for parts of southern and western England on Thursday evening1.
For those in eastern England, Friday could well be the peak of the heat, and the Met Office said warnings remain under review with a chance of escalation or extension, with the Amber for Friday highlighting the likelihood of high impacts1. The far southeast will retain the warmth the longest, though there should be a climb-down in figures by Saturday, with peaks around 32°C likely1. Scotland and Northern Ireland will also see warmth for a time, though absolute peaks are unlikely to reach the figures bringing severe impacts further south1.
"In addition, further Amber warnings have been issued for Friday and Saturday , which gradually shift further to the east of southern and central England with time"
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a series of Heat Health Alerts highlighting potential health and social care impacts1. Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said a red heat health alert indicates a risk to life for even the healthy population, and that 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, with people urged to look out for elderly relatives, neighbours and those with underlying health conditions1. Age UK Charity Director Caroline Abrahams said red extreme heat weather warnings are rare and should be taken seriously, especially by older people living with underlying health conditions such as heart or lung problems, and suggested keeping in the shade, drinking plenty of water and confining activities like walking or shopping to outside the hottest hours between 11am and 3pm, and keeping homes cool by closing curtains and windows during the day and opening them at night1.
The Met Office said the combination of heat and humidity will bring impacts across society from public health and infrastructure to power and water supplies1. The RNLI's National Water Safety Partner Samantha Hughes said the water is still cold and entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold water shock, advising people to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, and to call 999 for the coastguard in a coastal emergency1. The Met Office notes that seas and river temperatures are low enough to cause cold water shock when 15°C or lower1.
Why it matters for households
The Red warning covers much of southern and central England and Wales until late on Thursday night, with Amber warnings continuing for some areas into Friday and Saturday1. The Met Office's guide to yellow, amber and red weather warnings sets out what each level means, and households can sign up for Met Office weather alerts or follow developments through the staying informed hub. High overnight temperatures, likely to stay above 20°C for large parts of England and Wales, are cited by the Met Office as adding to the potential for significant impacts1. The Met Office and UKHSA advice on hydration, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, keeping homes cool and checking on older relatives and neighbours is reported above as theirs1.
What happens next
Thursday will see the peak of the heat for many, with those further east retaining extreme heat on Friday and Saturday under Amber warnings1. The Met Office said next week is likely to see a change to a more westerly influence, with a return to more average temperatures for the time of year and a mixture of winds and rain, particularly in the northwest1. Warnings remain under review, with a chance of escalation or extension to current warnings1. Further storm and snow guidance is available on the site.
Met Office Weather Warnings
