The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat across parts of England on Thursday, with temperatures potentially reaching 38C in certain areas. The affected regions include the east, south-east, and Midlands, where the high temperatures could cause impacts on transport, infrastructure, and health. An amber heat health alert is also in place until Friday evening, warning of significant impacts on social and healthcare, including a rise in deaths. Temperatures above 36C have not been seen in England since August 2020, when they peaked at 36.4C.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat in parts of England on Thursday, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 38C. This is the highest temperature seen in the country since August 2020, when a reading of 36.4C was recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens. The warning applies to parts of the east, south-east, and Midlands regions, where heat could impact transport, infrastructure, and health. If the temperature reaches 38C, it would equal this year's top temperature of 38C recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk on June 26th. Additionally, an amber heat health alert is already in place across most of England, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warning of significant impacts on social and healthcare services, including a rise in deaths. The Met Office warning will remain in effect from 0900 BST to 2359 on Thursday, during which time the summer heatwave is expected to peak.
Written for “UK Extreme Heat Warning” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
The Met Office has issued a rare amber weather warning for extreme heat, external for parts of England on Thursday, where temperatures could peak at 38C.
The highest temperatures will be in parts of the east, south-east and the Midlands and may lead to impacts on transport, infrastructure and health.
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temperatures → publish → transport
The last time we saw temperatures above 36C in August was 2020 when 36.4C was recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens.
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36.4C → see → Heathrow
The Met Office warning runs from 0900 BST until 2359 on Thursday, which is when the summer's latest heatwave reaches its peak.
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heatwave → run → peak
If the temperature does hit 38C, it would equal this year's top temperature of 38C recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on 26 June.
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it → hit → June
The UK's health security agency has also issued amber heat health alerts, which are currently in force across most of England.
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which → issue → England
Heat health alerts, external warn the public and medical professionals when periods of hot or cold temperatures pose a threat to health.
The UK's Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which issues them, is warning that significant impacts are likely across social and health care, including a rise in deaths.
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impacts → warn → deaths
The amber heat health alerts are in place until Friday evening to cover high and even extreme temperatures expected through this week.
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alerts → cover → week
The only region in England without an amber alert is the North East which has been given a less intense yellow alert for the same period.
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which → give → period
It comes after drought officials declared 71.3% of England is now in drought.
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% → come → drought
It has been a remarkable summer so far with temperatures remaining above average for most of it.
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temperatures → remain → it
Even in the "cooler" spells, they have only come down to near the average for the time of year.
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they → come → year
It will be a little cooler in East Anglia, London and south-east England, where it will be 22 to 26C.
The predicted temperatures, which are expected to rise as the week continues, have prompted the Met Office to issue an extreme heat warning for Thursday.
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week → predict → Thursday
The hot weather will intensify and be more widespread on Wednesday.
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weather → intensify → Wednesday
In an area from South Yorkshire to east Wales, Somerset and east across England temperatures will be in excess of 30C.
Some of the warmth will spread further north into northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland with temperatures into the low to mid-20s.
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Some → spread → mid-20s
The hottest weather will be around the Midlands and south-east England with 31 to 33C.
By Thursday and Friday, extreme heat is most likely in parts of the Midlands, eastern and south-east England where temperatures could be as high as 37 or 38C.
As heat builds throughout the week, overnight temperatures will stay relatively high bringing some uncomfortable nights for sleeping.
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temperatures → build → sleeping
Minimum temperatures may not go lower than 16 to 18C across England and Wales.
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temperatures → go → England
There is also a possibility of a "tropical night" – where temperatures remain above 20C all night – in south-east England.
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temperatures → be → England
For the first time in recorded history we are expecting a temperature higher than 35C to have been recorded in the UK for four consecutive months - underlining that this has been a year like no other.
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this → expect → other
When will we get any rain?
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we → get → rain
On Monday afternoon the National Drought Group announced the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs were the latest areas to move into drought status.
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Midlands → announce → status
This means that most of England - away from northern areas - are in official drought, with 45 million people living in a drought area and over 27 million with water restrictions, according to the group.
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people → mean → group
The announcement comes with no rain in the forecast through most of this week across England and Wales.
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announcement → come → England
We have to look towards Sunday, where there are some signs of rain coming into the UK from the Atlantic.
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We → have → Atlantic
Low pressure bringing rain-bearing weather fronts will move in across Wales and southern England and - for some - a spell of rain.
While this does not currently look to be particularly heavy or persistent, there could be the first bit of proper rain for many in nearly two months.
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this → bring → months
There could be a few showers at times across Scotland and Northern Ireland in the coming days, but these will be localised with most areas staying dry.
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areas → come → days
Beyond that, high pressure and more dry conditions look to be dominating the final week of August.
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pressure → look → August
