England was put under an amber heat-health alert today as an official heatwave began with Britons flocking to the beach and temperatures set to hit 34C.
The Government’s UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the five-day alert from midday today until Monday morning amid concerns that there could be ‘a rise in deaths, particularly among those ages 65 and over or with health conditions’.
The warning said ‘significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures’ along with ‘increased demand for power exceeding capacity’ and ‘heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services’.
The UKHSA has previously placed most of England apart from the North under a lesser yellow heat-health until Sunday evening, but this has now been upgraded. It is the first amber heat-health warning to be issued for two years since September 2023.
The mercury has steadily risen in recent days with highs of 25.2C (77.4F) last Sunday, 26.7C (80.1F) on Monday, 27.9C (82.2F) on Tuesday and 29.3C (84.7F) yesterday.
Now, thermometers are set to reach 32C (90F) today – which will be the hottest day of the year so far – before similar highs tomorrow and then 34C (93F) on Saturday. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and pollen levels will also climb over the coming days.
Friday and Saturday nights will be uncomfortable for sleeping, with temperatures possibly staying above 20C (68F) in places, which is known as a ‘tropical night’.
The heatwave is likely to officially end after Saturday, but the weather from Sunday into the middle of next week will stay warm with a range of 24C (75F) to 26C (79F).
Traffic data from TomTom showed increased congestion on the roads during this morning’s rush hour compared to normal levels in London , Birmingham , Manchester and Liverpool – as well as the seaside resorts of Brighton and Bournemouth.
And while many people headed for the beach, others took the opportunity to work from home in their garden – with one tweeting: ‘Right, time to work from home, at least I can do it from the garden.’ Another wrote: ‘Working from the garden today.’
London had a congestion level of 71 per cent at 8am compared to an average of 52 per cent, while Birmingham was at 74 per cent against to a 55 per cent average.
In Manchester, congestion was 55 per cent at 8am today against an average of 50 per cent; and Liverpool had a 61 per cent level against a 44 per cent average.
Seaside locations were also busy, with Brighton at 52 per cent at 8am compared to a 43 per cent average; and Bournemouth at 57 per cent against a typical 41 per cent.
The heat has also led to some dog shows this weekend being cancelled due to health concerns for the animals – including the Centre Paws show in Wymondham, Norfolk; Fun Dog Show in Redlingfield, Suffolk; and the Immingham Dogs Home show in Lincolnshire.
An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three days in a row, with thresholds varying from 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) in different areas.
The current warmest day of the year so far was last Friday when temperatures reached 29.4C (84.9F) at Santon Downham in Suffolk.
That broke the previous record for 2025 which stood at 29.3C (84.7F), recorded on May 1 at Kew Gardens in London.
But records are unlikely to be broken this week for the UK’s highest temperature in June, which was 35.6C (96.1F) in Southampton during the historic heatwave of 1976.
HR expert Alan Price, chief executive of BrightHR, said the heatwave is likely to be ‘not-so-coincidentally coincided with an uptick in annual leave requests’.
He told MailOnline that the firm was ‘expecting the number of requests to escalate even further as employees aim to make the most of the weather’.
Mr Price pointed out that the UK’s hottest day on record in July 2022 saw annual leave increase by 33 per cent, while the heatwave in September 2023 saw a 42 per cent increase in holiday requests and a 32 per cent rise in sickness absence.
He added: ‘Working from home, or rather ‘working from garden’, is also set to be high on the agenda for many employees.
‘Of course, this may simply be a tactic to enjoy as much of the sun as possible, but employers should be mindful that some may have no choice as high temperatures can cause issues with public transport.’
Meanwhile charities have issued warnings during this week’s hot weather – with the British Heart Foundation encouraging people with heart conditions to minimise potential health risks.
The charity’s senior cardiac nurse Ruth Goss said: ‘You can be at greater risk from the heat if you have a heart condition, as high temperatures can put extra strain on your heart.
‘Elderly people and very young children have more difficulty regulating their temperature and so can be more at risk from extreme temperatures.
‘In hot weather, check on your friends and relatives regularly to make sure they are cool and comfortable. The most important way you can protect your heart in the heat is to stay cool and keep hydrated.’
In addition, Age UK has urged people to check in on older relatives, friends, and neighbours to see if they need anything and to make sure they are not feeling overwhelmed by the excessive heat.
Caroline Abrahams, its charity director, said: ‘The heat is expected to build during the week, becoming hottest at the weekend and as temperatures rise, those with long-term health conditions impacting their heart, lungs or kidneys can be at extra risk.
‘Generally, our bodies find it harder to adapt to more extreme temperatures as we age.
‘Heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke can all worsen certain conditions, increasing strain on the body, and some medications make us more susceptible to hot weather.
‘At Age UK, we want older people to be able to enjoy the sunshine while taking care, so when the weather is really hot, it’s a good idea to take some simple precautions such as staying out of direct sunlight and drinking lots of water to stay hydrated.
‘It is also worth doing any daily activities, such as going for a walk, shopping, or gardening, before or after the hottest part of the day, which is 11am to 3pm.’
The Alzheimer’s Society is urging people to check in on friends and family living with dementia to make sure they stay safe during the hot weather.
Angelo Makri, senior knowledge officer for wellbeing at Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘People should absolutely enjoy the nice weather we’re having.
‘However, it’s important to note that high temperatures can lead to severe health problems for people with dementia unless they take precautions to keep cool and well-hydrated.’
Dementia UK has also issued advice and tips on how to support a loved one with the dementia.
These include: keeping hydrated; staying cool with appropriate clothing; keeping the person out of the heat; cooling the person down by avoiding hot drinks, alcohol and caffeine; and keeping the home environment cool.
St John Ambulance urged the public to familiarise themselves with the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and to learn how to respond.
It comes after a survey of 1,002 adults in England revealed more than half do not know the difference between ‘life-threatening’ heat stroke, which requires a 999 call, and heat exhaustion, which can be treated by cooling and hydrating a patient.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said heat is the ‘dominant story’ this week and temperatures will reach heatwave levels in parts of the UK.
He said: ‘Saturday is expected to be the peak of this hot spell, with temperatures fairly widely reaching into the low 30Cs across parts of England, with high 20Cs likely as far north as northern and eastern Scotland.
‘It will also be very warm at night over the weekend, with the potential for a few places to experience a ‘tropical night’, when temperatures do not drop below 20C.’
Some thundery showers could be seen in northern and western areas on Friday and into the weekend, before fresher conditions arrive later in the weekend and into next week, resulting in temperatures falling and potentially more unsettled weather, the forecaster added.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said the hotter weather will be a ‘welcome lift’ for the hospitality sector.
She said: ‘This spell of warm weather will no doubt be a welcome lift for hospitality venues up and down the country, as people look to eat, drink and socialise outdoors.
‘Businesses will now be hoping for a strong summer to help counterbalance the significant cost pressures they’re contending with. Rain or shine, I’d encourage everyone to get out and support their local hospitality businesses.’
Katy Alston, who has been in the ice cream trade for more than 20 years and runs Pinks Parlour near the beach in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, said this week’s weather will be ‘the difference between night and day’ for her business.
She said: ‘We get so excited because this is what we wait for. People who work in ice cream vans are risk takers because you never know when that big yellow ball is going to come out.’
Ms Alston said on Tuesday morning she had 84 inquiries from businesses wanting an ice cream van to visit, which is more than the last month.
‘We want to go to as many people as we can,’ she said. ‘We’re now making gelato around the clock, as fast as we’re making it, we’re selling it. It’s our Christmas time.’
Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has issued a warning over wildfires before the prolonged spell of hot weather and following one of the driest springs on record.
The LFB has attended more than 280 water-related incidents this year so far, an increase of about 15 per cent compared with the same period in 2024, it said.
They have included incidents such as sinking and capsized boats, individuals trapped in mud or caught by the tide, and people and animals in distress in the water.
Fifteen incidents resulted in people drowning in London, the fire brigade said.
As part of a national push during Drowning Prevention Week, LFB is increasing engagement with communities to raise awareness of water safety risks.
During a visit to Kingston Fire Station last week, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey met local firefighters and observed a live demonstration of the brigade’s river flume tank.
The tank includes a hydraulic flume with a range of features such as bridges, rocks and weirs to demonstrate how water behaves in rivers.
Since its introduction at Twickenham Fire Station last year, the tank has been used across London to show schools, youth groups, communities and stakeholders how even experienced swimmers can quickly get into difficulty in open water.
Pam Oparaocha, assistant commissioner for prevention and protection, said: ‘We’re working closely with MPs, schools and local communities to help people understand the serious water safety risks as summer approaches.
‘With warm weather and school holidays on the horizon, we want people, especially young people, to enjoy our waterways safely, and that starts with education.
‘Strong currents, underwater hazards and cold water shock can be deadly. It’s important to know the risks and to familiarise yourself with lifesaving equipment like throwlines, which are available along many of London’s waterways. There’s a wealth of guidance on our website to help people stay safe this summer.’
Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for the fire service, said: ‘London’s rivers, lakes and waterways can look very appealing when the temperatures rise, however, they can contain hidden dangers.
‘The mayor and I are working to improve the capital’s waterways for everyone to enjoy, and I urge everyone to heed London Fire Brigade’s advice to stay safe in and around water.
‘As the hot weather continues and with the summer holidays looming, this timely work with young people will help save lives and build a safer London for everyone.’
Issuing a BBQ warning, Ms Oparaocha added: ‘With hot weather comes the temptation to host BBQs or to head out to one of London’s many open spaces to enjoy the sunshine. However, it is important to make sure you are doing so safely.
‘We’ve had the driest spring in over a century, and the result is a heightened risk of grass fires, while the dry weather also means that fires can spread more easily.
‘If you’re out in the park or at an open space, please don’t take a disposable BBQ with you, make sure that smoking materials are discarded of properly and either dispose of your rubbish in the appropriate bins or take it home with you if none are available.
‘If you’re having a BBQ at home, avoid doing so on a balcony and ensure your BBQ is away from flammable materials like fences and sheds. You should also avoid having your BBQ on any decking you may have in your garden.’
RAC breakdown spokeswoman person Alice Simpson warned drivers should ‘take every precaution’ in the heat.
‘When temperatures soar, vehicle breakdowns usually do the same,’ she said.
‘One of the biggest risks is an increase in cars overheating, especially when sat in queues of traffic with no shade.’
Ms Simpson urged drivers to check their coolant levels and any air conditioning systems that are not working properly, and to take plenty of water and snacks on the road.
Meanwhile the heatwave is piling more pressure on farmers who were already struggling to produce food in the face of the very dry conditions.
The weather threatens to worsen the outlook for food production already struggling off the back of a record-hot and the driest spring in decades that has left north west England and Yorkshire in drought and other regions in prolonged dry conditions.
The hot, dry spring came after a record wet spell which left many farmers struggling to sow crops last autumn, and led to warnings earlier this month of potentially the worst harvest on record for major arable crops if conditions did not improve.
Farmers say the heatwave, following the dry spring, is putting ‘real pressure’ on farms across the country, and warn it will affect not just this year’s harvest, but food availability into next year.
They are warning of the need for investment in more resilient water supplies to help them cope with the more unpredictable extremes that climate change is bringing.
National Farmers’ Union (NFU) vice-president Rachel Hallos said: ‘As the Met Office forecasts a heatwave this weekend, it’s yet another reminder of the increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather our farmers and growers are facing.
‘After warnings of thunderstorms at the start of the month, this switch to hot, dry weather reinforces just how urgently we need long-term planning and investment in water resilience.
‘Drought puts immense pressure on crops, livestock and grass growth and threatens the availability of homegrown fruit and veg.
‘Investing in water infrastructure – from on-farm rainwater harvesting to more flexible abstraction rules – will help farmers manage these extremes, grow more fresh produce here in the UK and reduce reliance on imports from other water scarce countries.’
Martin Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), who farms in Cambridgeshire, said: ‘The ongoing heatwave, following an already dry spring, is putting real pressure on farms across the country.
‘Crops are struggling, harvests are coming earlier and lighter, and many farmers are seeing yields fall without any meaningful uplift in prices to offset the loss.
‘What’s worrying is that this doesn’t just hit the current harvest – it will affect food availability into next year too.’
He warned most farms do not have infrastructure to store water, and without rainfall they do not have reserves to draw on, and he called for long-term support for water storage and better planning across river catchments.
He also said nature-friendly farming plays a ‘vital role’ in building resilience to weather extremes.
‘Practices like improving soil health, using cover crops, and integrating habitats into fields are helping farmers stay productive while cutting back on inputs.
‘More support would help farms go further – it’s practical, makes business sense, and helps protect the land they rely on,’ he said.
Earlier this week, the Environment Agency warned England faces ‘huge’ water shortages of billions of litres a day by the middle of the century to provide for public water supplies as well as for areas such as food and energy production, without action to cut leaks, curb use and build new infrastructure.
