Live updates
The latest first. All times BST. This page is updated through the day as the Met Office, UKHSA and emergency services issue new information.
A fan running 24/7? Under £10 a month
The contrast with air conditioning is stark. At the July price cap unit rate (26.11p per kWh), a 50 W fan left running continuously costs roughly 31p a day, about £2.20 a week, or £9.40 across a full month of non-stop use. That is a bill roughly twenty times smaller than a portable air conditioner used the same way.
What a fan really costs to run all dayAircon on 24/7: up to £188 a month on your bill
Tempted to leave a portable air conditioner running through the heatwave? At the current price cap rate of 26.11p per kWh, a typical 1,000 W portable unit costs around 26p an hour, £6.27 a day if left on around the clock, and close to £188 over a full month of non-stop use. A fan does the basic job of moving air for a twentieth of the price.
The full aircon cost breakdownAmber alerts hold as temperatures dip, briefly
Amber heat health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) remain in place for the West Midlands and south-west England until 21:00 BST on 15 July, with yellow alerts covering north-west England, the East Midlands, the east of England, the south-east and London for the same period. Monday brings a brisk north-easterly breeze and a short-lived drop in temperatures, but highs of 30°C are still possible in some southern counties, and the mercury climbs again from Tuesday.
Today's forecast and how to keep coolWhere does the heatwave stand this Monday 13 July?
Brisk north-easterly winds and a spell of lower humidity have taken the edge off the recent intense heat, particularly across central and eastern areas. But the reprieve is brief. Temperatures across England and Wales on Monday will run below recent days yet could still reach 30°C in southern counties, meaning some locations enter a second consecutive week of 30-degree days.
By midweek, low pressure over France swings the UK into lighter easterly winds and more humid air. Temperatures rise almost everywhere from Tuesday and are expected to peak on Thursday, when more of England and Wales pushes back above 30°C and isolated spots could hit 34 to 35°C. Around 26 to 27°C is forecast for western Scotland and Northern Ireland, where heatwave thresholds (25°C) may briefly be met.
This is already a summer for the record books: the UK has logged a record nine days at 34°C or above in 2026, two more than the previous record years of 1976 and 2020, and it is the first year in the UK weather record with 35°C reached in May, June and July.
The key numbers this week
- Monday 13: highs near 30°C in southern England; 16 to 21°C on cooler North Sea coasts.
- Tuesday to Wednesday: heat and humidity rebuild as easterly winds set in.
- Thursday 16: the peak, widely 30°C+ across England and Wales, with isolated 34 to 35°C possible.
- Alerts: amber (West Midlands, South West) and yellow (NW England, East Midlands, East of England, South East, London) until 21:00 BST on 15 July.
- Nights: minimums holding above 20°C in places, meaning more "tropical nights".
- 2026 so far: by the Met Office count, a record nine days at 34°C or above, and 35°C reached in May, June and July for the first time on record.
Health alerts and an extreme wildfire risk
The UKHSA warns that significant impacts are likely across health and social care services during the alert period, including a rise in deaths among people aged 65 and over or with existing health conditions. Alert levels are reviewed continuously: check the UKHSA weather-health alert dashboard for live status.
The prolonged hot, dry spell has also pushed wildfire risk to "extreme" in places. A mountain wildfire in Conwy, north Wales, has been declared a major incident, forcing evacuations in a rural community, while fires burned over the weekend in Greater Manchester, Hampshire, County Durham, Derbyshire, East and West Sussex, Devon and Somerset. Fire services warn the risk rises again across central and eastern England from Wednesday.
When will it end? The heatwave, day by day
Sporadic thunderstorms could break out across southern areas later in the week, but forecasters see no decisive cool-down until the weekend. Here is how the hot spell is expected to play out, and when the relief arrives.
| Day | Peak | Trend | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 13 July | ~30°C | Brief dip | A brisk north-easterly breeze takes the edge off. Highs near 30°C in southern England, but only 16 to 21°C on cooler North Sea coasts. Amber and yellow alerts active. |
| Tuesday 14 July | Rising | Rebuilding | Winds turn lighter and easterly, humidity climbs and temperatures rise almost everywhere. |
| Wednesday 15 July | 30°C+ | Building further | Hot and increasingly humid. The amber and yellow heat-health alerts expire at 21:00 BST. |
| Thursday 16 July | 34 to 35°C | The peak | The hottest day: widely above 30°C across England and Wales, with isolated spots at 34 to 35°C. Western Scotland and Northern Ireland reach 26 to 27°C, briefly meeting heatwave thresholds. A thundery breakdown is possible late in the day. |
| Friday 17 July | ~27°C | Easing, thundery | Still very warm but the peak has passed. Thunderstorms can break out, especially in the south, and fresher air begins to edge in from the west. |
| Saturday 18 July | ~24°C | Cooler | Fresher Atlantic air arrives. Peak temperatures fall back to the mid-20s for most, so the heatwave effectively ends for the majority. |
| Sunday 19 July onward | Near normal | Near seasonal | Temperatures closer to the mid-July average. High pressure could rebuild later in the following week, so a return to hot spells cannot be ruled out. Rainfall stays scarce. |
Bottom line
The heatwave peaks on Thursday 16 July at 34 to 35°C, then breaks over the weekend of 18 to 19 July as thunderstorms and cooler Atlantic air move in, with the clearest relief from Saturday. Expect roughly one more hot week. It is likely to close this spell, though high pressure may rebuild later in the month, so keep an eye on the forecast.
What the heatwave costs to run, and how to cut it
Cooling is where the heat hits your wallet. With the July to September price cap setting electricity at an average 26.11p per kWh, a week of heavy cooling adds up fast. The two calculators below price a fan and a portable air conditioner at your own rate, and each shows the cheapest live electricity deal we can see right now, so you can see what switching would save on every cost on the page.
What a fan costs to run in the heatwave
Costs you about
a year · · £
Each
A month
Cheapest live electricity rate
British Gas is offering 23.85p per kWh — about 9% below the 26.11p price cap. Apply it to see every cost above drop.
A lower unit rate cuts the cost of every appliance above at once.
Default unit rate: Ofgem price cap, 1 July to 30 September 2026, Direct Debit. Costs are estimates based on typical power ratings.
What a portable air conditioner costs to run
Costs you about
a year · · £
Each
A month
Cheapest live electricity rate
British Gas is offering 23.85p per kWh — about 9% below the 26.11p price cap. Apply it to see every cost above drop.
A lower unit rate cuts the cost of every appliance above at once.
Default unit rate: Ofgem price cap, 1 July to 30 September 2026, Direct Debit. Costs are estimates based on typical power ratings.
Cutting your unit rate cuts every cooling cost at once
The fastest way to soften a heatwave bill is a cheaper tariff. Compare today's live electricity deals for your postcode in under a minute.
Cheapest live rate now: British Gas at 23.85p/kWh, about 9% below the 26.11p cap.
Staying safe, and keeping the bill down
The basics matter most: drink water regularly, keep curtains and blinds closed on sun-facing windows, avoid exertion between 11am and 3pm, and check on older or vulnerable neighbours and relatives. The NHS offers heat-health guidance at nhs.uk.
For the energy side, our guide to keeping your home cool without spending a fortune weighs fans against air conditioning, and it is a good moment to compare your electricity deal against the July price cap.
Frequently asked questions
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Sources
Met Office forecasts and heatwave statements (July 2026); UK Health Security Agency weather-health alerts; Ofgem energy price cap, 1 July to 30 September 2026; BBC Weather reporting; emergency services statements on the Conwy major incident. Cost figures are illustrative, calculated at the 26.11p per kWh price cap rate; your own rate may differ.
