The Met Office has raised its heatwave warning to the highest level, issuing a rare red alert for five counties in the Midlands. The upgrade from amber to red on Monday, June 22, signals an exceptional spell of heat that poses a risk to life and infrastructure.
Counties affected by the red warning
The red weather warning covers Northamptonshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands Conurbation, and Worcestershire. These areas, along with parts of central and southern England and Wales, will experience extreme heat on Wednesday and Thursday. Until then, an amber warning remains in place for a smaller portion of the UK until midnight Tuesday.
Record-breaking temperatures expected
The Met Office forecasts temperatures reaching 38°C (100°F) in London on Wednesday and Thursday. Meteorologists have growing confidence that this week could surpass the hottest June temperature ever recorded in the UK: 35.6°C (96°F) set in Southampton in 1976. According to the Met Office, there is now a 90% chance that the June record will be broken.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey stated: "It's particularly across central southern regions, where we have an extreme heat warning, an amber extreme heat warning issued, where we could see quite widely amongst the population some heat-related impacts throughout the week. Temperatures climbing towards the mid-30s in places, that is quite exceptional for June."
Expert analysis on the heatwave
Jo Wheeler, weather presenter for Sky News, provided further detail: "37C is expected tomorrow, 38C on Wednesday and Thursday and 33C on Friday. Even accepting these headline figures could be a couple of degrees lower, or higher, there's now a 90% chance that we'll see the hottest June day since records began, snatching the trophy from the unforgettable June of 1976 when 35.6C was recorded on 28 June. That was in Southampton, by the way, and it looks as though it will be those southernmost counties along with southwest Wales that will be most likely to see the extreme heat this week. London is unlikely to be a contender as we pick up a fresh easterly wind tomorrow, which will move the higher temperatures westward. If that June record is broken, as May's was last month, it will be the first time since 1911 that two subsequent months have experienced record-breaking heat."
Impact and advice
The red warning indicates a high likelihood of serious health impacts for the entire population, not just vulnerable groups. The Met Office advises people to stay hydrated, avoid the sun during peak hours, and check on elderly or isolated neighbours. Transport networks may also face disruptions due to extreme heat.
