A prolonged third heatwave of the year has begun across parts of the United Kingdom, with temperatures expected to climb up to 34C in southern areas by the middle of the week.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat-health alerts across the Midlands and southern England until 20:00 GMT on July 11, 2026.
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Minor impacts on health and social care services are anticipated, though vulnerable populations face a more significant risk to life.
Regional Temperature Forecast
Northern regions will experience warmer conditions, but cloud cover and rainfall are expected, particularly in western Scotland.
Temperatures in East Anglia, the Midlands, and south-east England could reach 31C on Monday afternoon, meeting heatwave criteria in those areas over the coming days.
The heatwave is forecast to intensify from mid-week onward, pushing temperatures across England and east Wales into the high-20s and low-30s.
London and south-east England may see the mercury peak around 34C on Wednesday and Thursday, with some weather modeling suggesting potential spikes into the mid-to-high 30s.
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Context of Previous Heatwaves
This event follows two consecutive record-breaking heatwaves earlier this year, which saw temperatures soar to 35.1C in May and 37.7C in June.
The June heatwave brought high humidity and prompted the Met Office to issue a rare red warning for extreme heat after temperatures exceeded 30C for seven consecutive days.
Although the current system is not expected to bring the extreme humidity or peak temperatures seen in June, meteorologists project that temperatures exceeding 30C could last for up to 10 consecutive days.
European Heatwave Impact
Meanwhile, an intense European heatwave has built across Portugal and south-west Spain, where Porto recorded a temperature of 40.1C over the weekend.
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Meteo-France has warned that this dry continental heat will spread north into France this week, pushing temperatures into the mid-to-high 30s and exceeding 40C in southern areas.
