Met Office Issues Four-Day Amber Heat Warning for England and Wales Starting Monday

A four-day amber weather warning for extreme heat begins at 01:00 BST on Monday 22 June 2026 and remains in force until 23:59 BST on Thursday 25 June 2026. The warning covers large swathes of England and Wales, with more northerly areas included only on Wednesday and Thursday.

Daytime temperatures are expected to exceed 30 °C widely across the warning area, and the hottest locations are forecast to reach around 38 °C.

Overnight temperatures in some urban areas are forecast to remain above 20–21 °C, producing so-called tropical nights. The Met Office says population-wide impacts are likely, including serious health risks, disruption to daily routines and increased pressure on infrastructure. The UK Health Security Agency has issued heat-health alerts across parts of England.

High and very high levels of pollen are expected widely across the UK over the next week. Wales, the Midlands and southern England are forecast to have very high grass and weed pollen in the coming days. North-east England and Northern Ireland can expect generally high pollen levels, while Scotland will continue to see generally lower levels.

The heat is spreading from continental Europe. Temperatures in parts of western France could climb to 43–44 °C over the next few days, and red heatwave alerts have been issued for about half of France for Monday. Paris is forecast to reach 40 °C.

The Met Office says adverse health effects are likely to be experienced not only by vulnerable groups but across the wider population. Substantial changes to working practices and daily routines may be required, while heat-sensitive systems and equipment could be affected.

There are also concerns about increased demand on transport and energy networks, alongside a heightened risk of water safety incidents as more people head to beaches, rivers and lakes to cool off.