UK Heat Health Alerts Issued as Temperatures Forecast to Reach 33C

The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber heat health alert for London, the South East, the East and the Midlands beginning at 2pm on Friday. Yellow alerts cover the remainder of England. The warnings remain in effect until 5pm on 27 May and indicate a likely rise in deaths along with significant pressure on health and social services.

Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steve Kocher stated that temperatures will climb through the weekend, particularly in the south. He said 30C is likely on Saturday and 32C on Sunday, with a possible peak of 33C on Monday in southern England and the Midlands.

Forecasters expect 28C in Greater London and Cambridgeshire on Friday, with around 25C across much of England. Strong sunshine is forecast for the south east while northern areas will be cloudier. Bank holiday Saturday is expected to reach 29C in the south east and 20-25C elsewhere in England.

Sunday highs are projected at 31C in Greater London and 26C across the rest of the south east, with 21-27C elsewhere in the UK.

8C are likely to be broken over the weekend. He added that dry and sunny conditions will prevail for much of the UK, though Northern Ireland and western Scotland will see more cloud and showers. Low sea surface temperatures may produce low cloud and sea fog along western coasts.

The Met Office noted that the unseasonably warm spell meets heatwave criteria, with temperatures forecast to stay at or above 28C for five consecutive days.