UK braced for another heatwave from today with temperatures set to soar to 30°C

Parts of the UK will bake under another heatwave beginning this weekend, with health alerts in place for vulnerable people.

A yellow heat health alert had already been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), covering the East Midlands, east, south-east and south-west England, including London, from midday today until 5pm on Wednesday.

But the UKHSA has since extended it to the West Midlands and run until next Saturday.

The agency said the heatwave could bring ‘increased use of healthcare services’ by and ‘greater risk to life’ of vulnerable people.

There is also ‘increased potential for indoor environments to become very warm’, while ‘water‑related incidents may increase, including risks from cold‑water shock and drowning’.

The Met Office said the likelihood of a return to last week’s ‘unprecedented’ heat is ‘currently low’, but a new period of warm weather is imminent.

The hot spell saw temperatures break the record for the hottest June day – set 50 years ago during the infamous 1976 summer – by more than 1°C.

After a brief cooler spell, forecasters say conditions are set to heat up again next week, with parts of South East England potentially seeing temperatures of over 30°C.

Temperatures in London are expected to reach 31°C by Monday, steadily increasing over the weekend, with lows of between 15°C and 20°C.

In the north-east of England and eastern Scotland temperatures could rise to the mid to high 20s.

Western areas such as Lancashire, the Lake District, western Scotland and Northern Ireland will be limited to the mid-20s by an Atlantic breeze which will act like a natural air conditioner.

The Met Office said surface waters in north-west European seas are currently experiencing moderate to severe marine heatwave conditions.

Waters have reached temperatures usually expected in August and are on average 2C warmer than usual.

They have even reached more than 4-5°C warmer locally in some offshore parts of the English and Welsh coasts, the forecasting agency said.

But despite warmer than usual marine temperatures, people are still being warned about the risks of cold water shock.

Holly Clements, Met Office head of warnings and guidance, said: ‘With warmer weather approaching, and even with marine heatwave conditions, it’s important to remember that the water around the UK is still cold.

‘Entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold-water shock.’

Where possible, always choose an RNLI lifeguarded beach, and swim between the red and yellow flags, and to call 999 for the coastguard in the cast of an emergency, the Met Office added.

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