Met Office issues rare amber extreme heat warning for parts of England and Wales

The Met Office has issued a rare amber extreme heat warning for southern England and south-east Wales, as forecasters warned that temperatures could peak at about 34C on Monday and Tuesday and may climb higher in some places.

The warning, issued on Friday, June 19, came alongside a separate amber heat-health alert from the UK Health Security Agency for London, the south-east, the south-west and the east of England. Officials said the combination of hot days and warm nights could increase pressure on health services and raise safety risks for vulnerable people.

What forecasters are expecting

The Met Office said some areas in southern England could already meet heatwave criteria over the weekend, before conditions intensify early next week.

Temperatures were expected to rise to around 30C over the weekend, then climb to about 34C on Monday and Tuesday. Forecasters also said there was a chance that some places could exceed that level.

The outlook included a warning that tropical nights were likely in some areas, meaning overnight temperatures may not fall below 20C. The Met Office also said there could be isolated thundery downpours on Monday and Tuesday.

Why the warning matters

Amber warnings signal a higher likelihood of severe impacts and possible disruption. In this case, the main concern is not only comfort but health and safety.

UKHSA said the alert covers areas where deaths may rise during the heat, especially among people aged 65 and over or those with underlying health conditions. The agency also warned of increased water-related incidents, including cold-water shock and drowning.

That risk remains even when air temperatures are high. Water-safety groups such as the RNLI have repeatedly warned during hot spells that open water can stay cold enough to trigger cold-water shock.

A rare escalation

The Met Office described the amber extreme heat warning as its most extreme heat warning in nearly four years. The amber extreme heat system was introduced in July 2021, and the last time the Met Office used it was in August 2022, according to reports.

That makes the latest warning unusual even in a summer that has already seen temperatures climb. A Guardian report on June 18 said amber heat warnings were already in place across parts of southern England ahead of the second heatwave, with hotter conditions expected to build into the weekend and early next week.

The newer warning on June 19 marked an escalation from that earlier setup. It reflected the Met Office's view that the combination of daytime heat, warm nights and the possibility of higher peaks could bring more serious impacts.

Chronology and geography

The warning on June 19 followed a day earlier report that temperatures were set to rise through Friday and the weekend, with the hottest spell expected at the start of the following week.

The affected area includes much of southern England and south-east Wales, while the UKHSA health alert separately covers London, the south-east, the south-west and the east of England. The overlap means a large swath of the country is now facing both a weather warning and a public-health alert.

Forecasters will also be watching whether the heatwave criteria hold in the areas already on the edge of that threshold over the weekend. The practical question is not only whether the country reaches 34C, but whether some places go beyond it.

Health and safety implications

The main public-health concern is for older adults, people with pre-existing conditions and anyone who is more vulnerable to heat stress. UKHSA said the alert reflects the risk of higher mortality in the affected regions if temperatures remain elevated.

Warm nights add to that risk because the body has less time to recover from heat during the day. For hospitals, care homes and other health services, that can mean more pressure at a time when staffing and resources may already be stretched.

The warning also has implications beyond health care. Hot weather can affect travel, outdoor work and public behaviour, especially if people head to beaches, rivers or lakes to cool off.

What happens next

Forecasters will be watching whether temperatures exceed 34C anywhere early next week, and whether the Met Office extends, widens or downgrades the warning.

Officials will also be monitoring whether UKHSA updates its amber health alert as conditions change. Any rise in heat-related illness, transport disruption or water-safety incidents would show how quickly the warning is translating into real-world impact.

For now, the message from the Met Office is clear: southern England and south-east Wales are facing a short but potentially significant spell of extreme heat, with risks that go well beyond discomfort alone.