London is set to experience its first official heatwave of the summer as temperatures are forecast to climb to around 30°C in the coming days, prompting health warnings and the possibility of thunderstorms across parts of south-east England.
According to the latest forecasts from the Met Office, temperatures in London are expected to rise significantly toward the end of the week and remain elevated for several consecutive days. Forecasts indicate highs of around 30°C on Friday, followed by similarly hot conditions from Sunday onwards, potentially meeting the official criteria for a heatwave.
The hot spell has also prompted the UK Health Security Agency to issue a Yellow Heat-Health Alert covering London and south-east England. The alert, which runs from Wednesday until Monday, warns that prolonged high temperatures could negatively affect the health and wellbeing of vulnerable groups, including older adults, young children, and people with underlying medical conditions.
While many residents may welcome the return of summer weather, meteorologists have cautioned that this heatwave is likely to differ from the exceptionally sunny conditions experienced earlier this year. Deputy Chief Forecaster Gregory Wolverson said the weather pattern reflects a common summer contrast, with unsettled conditions affecting parts of north-west Britain while heat builds across southern and eastern regions.
Forecasters say temperatures across southern and eastern England are likely to be high enough to officially qualify as a heatwave. However, unlike the clear and uninterrupted sunshine that characterised May’s record breaking temperatures, the upcoming warm spell is expected to bring increased cloud cover and a chance of thunderstorms.
Meteorologists have warned that thunderstorms could develop later in the day in some areas of south-east England. Although these storms are not expected to be widespread, they could bring heavy downpours, brief periods of intense rainfall, and localised disruption.
A spokesperson for the Met Office said temperatures would gradually increase throughout the week, with parts of southern England approaching 30C by Friday, depending on cloud conditions. Warm weather is then expected to become more widespread over the weekend, with some locations in southern and south-eastern England potentially reaching the low 30s.
Forecasts suggest maximum temperatures could reach 32°C on Friday in parts of East Anglia before easing slightly on Saturday as the warmest air temporarily moves away from the UK. However, conditions are expected to intensify again from Sunday, with temperatures potentially reaching 32°C in southern and south-eastern England and climbing to around 33°C by Monday.
The latest forecast follows an exceptionally warm spring. In May, a temperature of 35.1°C was recorded at Kew Gardens, setting a new UK record for the month. Some areas also experienced temperatures above 30°C for six consecutive days, an unusually prolonged period of heat for late spring.
As London prepares for another spell of unusually high temperatures, health officials are advising residents to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun during the hottest parts of the day, and check on vulnerable family members, neighbours, and friends as the capital braces for potentially challenging summer conditions.
