After a brief cooler spell, hot air is pushing back up from the continent and much of England and Wales is heading into the peak of an August heatwave. Forecasters expect the hot weather to last through the middle of the week and into the weekend, with a genuine break not arriving for most until the weekend itself.
How hot, and where
The Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency have issued heat-health alerts across England, with a red extreme heat warning for the middle of the week and amber alerts in force more widely. Temperatures are set to climb into the low 30s across southern and eastern England, with a peak near 36 °C possible in parts of East Anglia and the south-east on Thursday. The picture is very much a north-south split: Scotland and Northern Ireland stay cooler and see rain, while the south bakes.
The peak in the middle of the week
The hottest days are expected on Wednesday and Thursday, when high pressure draws the warmest air up from France and Iberia. After an exceptionally dry start to August, the ground is parched and the risk of grass and heath fires is running high, which is why several water companies already have hosepipe bans in place.
Warm nights are the real test
The number that matters most is not the afternoon high but the overnight low. When temperatures stay above 20 °C at night, sleep suffers and the body cannot recover, which is what makes a prolonged heatwave so draining. Older people, those living alone and anyone with a heart or breathing condition are the most at risk and should be checked on during the hottest hours. Keeping curtains closed during the day, drinking regularly and saving errands for the early morning all help.
When the heat breaks
The good news is that every heatwave ends. Current forecasts point to a breakdown from the weekend, when fresher Atlantic air works in from the west, often heralded by heavy, thundery showers. Until then, it is safer to plan your days as though the heat is here to stay.
Protecting your health without a bill shock
Fans and portable air conditioners make hot days bearable, but they add up on the meter. A few habits keep costs down: run a fan rather than cooling an empty room, set any air conditioning no lower than it needs to be, and cool the house overnight when it is cheaper and easier. Our guide to staying cool during a heatwave sets out the practical steps, and the same tips on how to save electricity that help in winter also keep summer running costs in check under the current Ofgem price cap of around 26p per kWh.