Heat Warning Issued as England Nears 30°C
Large areas of England are under a yellow heat-health alert as temperatures are expected to climb into the high 20s, with some locations potentially reaching 30°C. The alerts, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), cover the East Midlands, East of England, London, the South East, the South West, and the West Midlands, and remain in effect until 9 a.m. on Sunday.
The warning comes amid an extended spell of hot, dry weather that has raised concerns about its impact on public health and wellbeing. Officials are urging people, particularly vulnerable groups, to take precautions as temperatures remain well above seasonal averages.
The heatwave follows worsening drought conditions across the UK. North Wales and the upper Severn region have officially entered drought status after months of exceptionally dry weather, record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires, and falling river levels. Many parts of England have received only around 3% of their typical July rainfall, prompting hosepipe bans that now affect approximately 23 million customers. Water companies have warned that restrictions could remain in place throughout the summer.
Dry conditions have also increased the risk of wildfires. Several major fires have broken out across England, while Scotland has battled a significant wildfire in the Cairngorms. Ireland has also introduced a nationwide hosepipe ban as water supplies come under pressure.
Scientists continue to link the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events to climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.
According to the Met Office, the hottest conditions are expected in south-east England, where temperatures could peak at around 30°C. However, weather patterns are expected to shift over the weekend. Rain is forecast to spread south from Scotland and Northern Ireland on Saturday into northern England and parts of Wales. By Sunday, cooler conditions are expected across much of the UK, with rainfall likely in areas that have seen very little precipitation in recent weeks.
The hot weather coincides with one of the busiest travel periods of the summer holiday season. The AA estimates that around 6.3 million motorists will make road trips of more than 100 miles between Friday and next Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Port of Dover is preparing for heavy passenger traffic. Authorities have introduced measures to reduce delays linked to new EU border checks. On Friday morning, processing times in the port’s buffer zone were around 40 minutes, while ferry operator DFDS reported border control waits of up to 60 minutes, although check-in operations remained smooth.
The UKHSA’s heat-health alert system, operated in partnership with the Met Office, is designed to provide early warnings to healthcare providers, emergency services, local authorities, and government agencies when high temperatures are likely to pose risks to public health.
