Amber heat health alerts for almost all of England as next heatwave begins

England is bracing for intensified heat as amber heat health alerts have been issued for almost the entire country, signaling a widespread and significant rise in temperatures starting Wednesday. Many areas, stretching from South Yorkshire to east Wales and Somerset, will experience highs exceeding 30C (86F).

The warmth is expected to creep further north, bringing temperatures into the low to mid-20s Celsius across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, the most extreme heat is forecast for the Midlands and southeast England, where temperatures could soar to 35C or even 36C (95-97F) by Thursday and Friday. This building heat will also lead to uncomfortably warm overnight temperatures, with minimums potentially staying between 16-18C (61-64F) across England and Wales, and the possibility of "tropical nights" above 20C (68F) in the southeast.

While the upcoming heatwave may not feel as humid as the record-breaking heatwaves in June and July, the Met Office is reportedly considering issuing extreme heat warnings. Such warnings would indicate potential concerns not only for public health but also for infrastructure, including transport networks and power lines. This year has already seen exceptionally high temperatures, with highs of 38C and 35.5C recorded in June and July respectively.

This prolonged period of warmth is unprecedented. For the first time in recorded history, the UK is anticipating four consecutive months with temperatures exceeding 35C. This trend underscores a year of unusual weather patterns. The heatwave comes as several regions in England, including the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Kent, East Sussex, and the Solent and South Downs areas, have officially moved into drought status. This means most of England, excluding northern areas, is now under drought conditions, affecting 45 million people, with over 27 million facing water restrictions.