The United Kingdom is in the grip of an intensifying heatwave, with Saturday marking the hottest day of the year so far.
A sweltering 33.2°C was recorded in Charlwood, near Gatwick, surpassing the previous 2025 high registered earlier in the week.
Forecasters say the mercury could climb even higher to 34°C before the day ends. However, the heatwave is set to be accompanied by unstable weather, with thunderstorms predicted and a yellow warning issued by the Met Office for parts of northern England, the Scottish Borders, and Wales from Saturday evening until the early hours of Sunday.
The heat and rising humidity are expected to trigger severe downpours, prompting concerns of flash floods, large hail, and frequent lightning.
This weather alert coincides with an amber heat-health warning issued by the UK Health Security Agency, which remains in place until Monday.
New research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London warns of a looming health crisis.
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According to their models, approximately 570 people could succumb to heat-related causes in England and Wales over a four-day period, with London projected to account for 129 of those fatalities.
“Every fraction of a degree of warming will cause more hospital admissions and heat deaths, putting more strain on the NHS,” explained Prof Antonio Gasparrini of the LSHTM.
As of Friday, multiple UK regions met the threshold for a heatwave, which is defined as three consecutive days of high temperatures.
The criteria differ by region, ranging from 25°C in the north and west to 28°C in the southeast. Suffolk became the first area to officially experience a heatwave on Thursday after three days above 27°C.
A high-pressure system is pulling scorching air from continental Europe into the UK, with France and Spain bracing for temperatures nearing 40°C. Already, Heathrow hit 31°C and Cambridge reached 30°C on Saturday, further confirming the blistering conditions.
Humidity is compounding the discomfort, especially at night. On Friday evening, temperatures remained stubbornly high, around 24°C in many areas. Some places could face “tropical nights,” where overnight lows don’t drop below 20°C.
While western parts of the country may see cooler air push in overnight, eastern England might only cool to around 18°C.
Despite expectations of some respite on Sunday, with temperatures in the south and east expected to dip into the high 20s, heatwave conditions could resume later next week.
The heat has already had dangerous consequences. Fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to over 550 wildfires this year, a staggering 717% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The National Fire Chiefs Council’s chair, Phil Garrigan, expressed serious concern, “We are deeply concerned about the escalating threat of wildfires this summer,” warning that such blazes are becoming “more frequent, intense and dangerous.”
Public warnings have been issued urging caution around barbecues and objects like glass bottles that can ignite fires. Despite the recent dry spell and medium drought risk, there are currently no hosepipe bans in place, as reservoir levels remain relatively stable.
Although it can be challenging to link a single heatwave directly to climate change, scientists agree that global warming is intensifying these events.
According to the World Weather Attribution group, the likelihood of experiencing 32°C in June has increased 100-fold since pre-industrial times.
Moreover, a June heatwave lasting three days has become ten times more likely, now occurring once every five years instead of once every 50.
“With every fraction of a degree of warming, the UK will experience hotter, more dangerous heatwaves,” said Ben Clarke of Imperial College London’s Centre for Environmental Policy. “This means more heat deaths, more pressure on the NHS, more transport disruptions, tougher work conditions and poorer air quality.”
Despite the weather extremes, many people gathered to mark the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, at iconic locations like Stonehenge and Glastonbury Tor.
While the tradition has pagan roots tied to ancient agricultural cycles, its appeal today is widespread.
“It’s just lovely breathing points throughout the year,” said Grace, a Morris dancer celebrating at Avebury henge in Wiltshire. “The sun stands still and it gives you a chance to stand still.”
Cardiff resident Matthew Watkins, present at Avebury for the sunrise, described the moment as “glorious” and “a special moment.”
