A severe summer heatwave pushed temperatures toward 36 degrees Celsius across central and southern England on Thursday, triggering extreme wildfire warnings and widespread disruptions to power, water, and transport.
The Met Office recorded a provisional temperature of 33.1 degrees Celsius in London by 1 p. m.
, while an amber heat health alert remains in place until Sunday evening.
This marks the third major heatwave of the season, prompting Forestry England to raise the wildfire risk level to red across the South West due to dangerously dry conditions.
Officials Urge Public to Avoid Open Flames
Emergency services reported heightened vulnerability in woodlands, citing dozens of previous blazes sparked by human negligence that have threatened local ecosystems and strained resources.
Katy Mansell, Forestry England area manager, stressed the danger of lighting barbecues and fires in the countryside despite the appeal of sunny weather.
"Each time we manage to safely extinguish a forest fire, we feel very thankful that the outcome wasn't a very different story," Mansell said.
She urged the public to protect rural areas by refraining from any open burning or outdoor cooking in forested zones.
"It will take decades to make up for one moment of carelessness," she added.
Weather Pattern Shifts, Storms Possible
Forecasters indicated that the extreme high-pressure system will gradually shift position over the coming days, altering the distribution of the highest temperatures.
Tom Crabtree, Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, said that while temperatures are expected to ease across southeast England through the weekend and into next week, it will not be a straightforward end to the warm weather.
"High pressure is expected to remain in charge through much of next week, but it will gradually migrate northwards," Crabtree explained.
This means an easterly wind will become established in the south, and the focus for the hottest conditions will migrate toward the southwest.
Northern and western regions will continue to experience temperatures well above seasonal averages as the system moves.
The overall signal is for continued fine, dry and very warm weather for many parts of the UK into next week, though there is a chance of thunderstorms spreading into parts of the south and southwest.
Infrastructure Strains Under Heat
Infrastructure struggled under the heat as train operators faced disruptions and utility failures left hundreds of London homes without water or power following a major water main burst in Bow.
Bus drivers in the capital also raised concerns over hazardous conditions inside older, non-air-conditioned vehicles, where internal temperatures have previously surpassed 40 degrees Celsius.
Municipalities have begun adjusting operations, including Cyngor Gwynedd in North Wales, which altered waste collection schedules to early morning shifts to protect workers from peak heat.
