An amber weather warning for intense heat begins across much of the UK on Thursday, with thermometers predicted to hit 38C. This marks the climax of the fifth major heatwave of 2026, with most affected areas seeing temperatures in the mid-30s.
The Met Office has set the warning from 09:00 BST to 23:59 BST, covering London, the south-east, Eastern England, the Midlands, and parts of Yorkshire and Humber. Concurrently, the UK Health Security Agency has active heat health alerts for all of England through Friday evening, highlighting risks to social care services and vulnerable groups, particularly those over 65.
Authorities warn of potential infrastructure disruptions, including rail and air travel delays and possible power outages. Personal health risks such as dehydration and heat exhaustion are also significant concerns, compounded by tropical nights where temperatures remain above 20C.
While this heat spell is expected to be brief, lasting only two or three days before cooling slightly over the weekend, it is likely to break several long-standing records. If temperatures reach the projected 35C threshold, it will be the fourth month this year to hit that mark, an unprecedented occurrence. Reaching 36C would make 2026 the first year to record four such days, eclipsing the previous record shared by 1990, 2003, and 2020.
