Heatwave conditions in England and Wales to continue into next week, says Met Office | UK weather

Sweltering heatwave conditions across much of England and Wales will continue until at least next week, the Met Office has said.

Temperatures will continue to exceed 30C in parts of England and Wales on Sunday and into next week, the forecaster said.

While a risk of storms may develop in parts of the south from Monday, most areas are expected to remain dry, sunny and very warm next week.

The provisional maximum daily temperature was recorded at Yelverton in Devon on Saturday at 33C, the Met Office said.

In the statement, it was stated that 2026 will be the first year in which the temperature was recorded at 35 degrees in six days in England. Between 1976 and 2020, five days with temperatures above 35°C were recorded.

2026 also became the first year in the UK to experience temperatures of 35C or higher for three months, breaking the record for temperatures of 34C or higher, with nine days recorded at that level so far.

Emergency services have warned of extreme bushfire risk this weekend.

London’s fire brigade has urged people not to use disposable barbecues amid concerns the dry heat could lead to fires. He said the risk in London increased from “high” to “extreme” on Saturday due to factors such as prolonged dry weather, temperature and wind speed, and this situation will continue until Monday.

Metropolitan police said they were concerned about excessive calls during England’s World Cup match against Norway on Saturday evening. A surge in emergency calls during hot weather has led police to warn people to only call 999 if there is immediate danger or a crime has occurred. Other crimes must be reported online.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “The temperature today of 33C is still well above average for that time of year. Very hot conditions will continue across the UK until at least next week.”

He added: “Make sure you stay hydrated in hot weather, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and check on friends and family. If you’re planning to enjoy the seaside, check the water temperature. The water can still be quite cold so make sure you’re fully aware of this to avoid cold water shock.”

Snell said people should be mindful of waves along the south shore as strong winds could develop in the coming days.

Amber heat health warnings have been issued by the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) for the West Midlands and south-west from 9am on Sunday until 9pm on Wednesday.

This means significant impacts on health and social care services are likely due to high temperatures, including an increase in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with existing health conditions.

Yellow heat health warnings have been issued for the east Midlands, north-west, south-east, east of England and London and will also be in force from 9am on Sunday until 9pm on Wednesday.

The UKHSA said similar significant impacts were possible in these areas and warned of a potential increase in water-related incidents, including risks of cold water shock and drowning, across England.

The body of an 18-year-old man was pulled from the water near an embankment at the Darley Abbey Mills complex near Derby after two teenagers got into trouble, Derbyshire Constabulary said.

Manchester police said an 18-year-old man died at Dovestone reservoir near Oldham on Friday. The body of a woman who had difficulty in the water was recovered from Falloch Falls in Stirling, Scotland, on Friday evening, Police Scotland said.

The Met Office warned of high or very high UV levels this weekend and advised people to protect themselves from the sun when outdoors. Very high UV levels are forecast for much of England and Wales on Sunday.

The forecaster said pollen levels were expected to be high or very high in some areas, particularly in Wales and the south-west of England.

Water companies have announced cyclone bans for the east of England, the Cambridge area, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Kent. Following a record warm spring in England and Wales, followed by successive heatwaves, the pressure on water resources has increased further.

Hose restrictions came into force on Friday for around 1 million Southern Water customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This followed restrictions on Anglian Water’s five million customers in the east of England, which came into force at 1am on Saturday.

In a notice on Thursday afternoon, Cambridge Water announced a temporary hose ban for its 350,000 customers; Although this ban goes into effect immediately, enforcement actions will not begin until 01:00 next Friday.

This marks the first time he has imposed restrictions in three decades; The company said crews were working around the clock to preserve supplies.

South East Water became the first company to impose a ban on parts of Kent including Ashford, Canterbury, Faversham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Snodland, Tenterden and Tunbridge Wells on July 3.