Following a Friday where temperatures surpassed 30C across parts of the UK, Saturday offers a short-lived cooling trend. Fresh air moving in from the west is expected to temper the heat, though the south-east of England may still reach peaks of 27-28C. Most regions should remain dry with sunny intervals.
By Sunday, the heat will begin to build once again, setting the stage for a period of extreme temperatures. The Met Office has implemented an amber warning for extreme heat that spans from Monday through Tuesday for much of southern and eastern England, as well as parts of Wales and the Midlands. During this time, temperatures in the south-east could climb to 34-35C.
Official heatwave criteria require temperatures to remain above local thresholds for three consecutive days. While some areas in the south-east have already seen two such days, Saturday might mark the third, potentially triggering an official declaration. Forecasters also anticipate tropical nights, where temperatures stay above 20C, potentially impacting public health and travel infrastructure.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued heat-related health alerts, noting that prolonged exposure to such conditions poses risks even for the healthy, including heat exhaustion and sunstroke. Beyond the heat, there is potential for intense thunderstorms to develop. Experts note that human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of these extreme heat events globally.