UK heatwave spreads further north and west as temperatures continue to climb
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- The UK heatwave is forecast to peak at 35C (95F) on Thursday, with Wednesday's high reaching 33.8C at Heathrow Airport, 31.2C in Cardiff, 29.0C in Aboyne (Scotland), and 27.1C in Helen's Bay (Northern Ireland).
- High pressure sitting over the UK will shift northward by Friday, pushing the heat into southern Wales and the Midlands while a developing easterly breeze brings cooler conditions to eastern areas.
- Amber heat health alerts cover the Midlands, eastern and southern England until 12 July, with yellow alerts across northern England, warning of significant impacts on health and social care services and a likely rise in deaths among over-65s and those with health conditions.
- The National Fire Chiefs Council warned of increased wildfire risk from the dry, hot weather and advised the public to avoid using disposable barbecues in open countryside, parks, and moorlands.
- The heatwave's longevity is what makes it remarkable: many areas could meet or exceed heatwave criteria for the next 10 days, drawing comparison to the 1976 heatwave when parts of England saw 13 to 16 consecutive days above 30C.
- The Met Office says hotter summers are now twice as likely compared to the 1991–2020 baseline, consistent with a warming climate, and its three-month outlook points to above-average temperatures and "significant bursts" of heat through July and August.
Why it matters: This is the third heatwave of the year and one of the longest-lasting since 1976, with 10 days of heatwave criteria potentially met across the UK. The Met Office now puts hotter summers at twice the likelihood of the 1991–2020 baseline — a direct signal of climate-driven baseline shifts. Health and fire services are already responding with amber alerts and wildfire warnings.
