Monday set to be one of the hottest June days ever with temperatures to hit 34C
Monday is set to be one of the hottest June days on record, with highs of 34C serving tennis fans a sweltering start to Wimbledon.
Much of England will enter a fourth day of a heatwave, forecast to be hotter than holiday spots in Barbados, Jamaica and Mexico.
Since 1960, UK temperatures in June have surpassed 34C in only three years, with the hottest being 35.6C, recorded on June 28 1976.
Wimbledon is set for its hottest opening day ever on Monday, with temperatures expected to surpass the previous record of 29.3C set on June 25 2001.
The hottest day the tournament has seen was on July 1 2015 when temperatures reached 35.7C.
A tropical night may also be on the cards, with parts of England to stay above 20C overnight into Tuesday, the Met Office said.
Parts of south-east England could then hit 35C on Tuesday.
But, Scotland and Northern Ireland face heavy rain and cooler temperatures.
Charlwood in Surrey recorded the hottest temperature of the year so far at 33.2C on June 21.
A second amber heat health alert in two weeks came into force on Friday.
The alert, which covers London, the East Midlands, the South East, the South West and the East of England, will last until 6pm on Tuesday.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same time period, warning of significant impacts on health and social care services.
An amber alert was previously issued for all regions in England on June 19, the first time it had been used since September 2023.
An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.
London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Thomas Goodall said: 'London is already facing its second heatwave of the year and we know that people will be looking forward to getting outside to enjoy the wonderful weather.
'But the high temperatures and low rainfall in recent months means the current risk of wildfires is severe.
'So far this year, firefighters have responded to around 14 wildfires in the capital.
'There have also been countless callouts to smaller fires involving grass, trees and in other outdoor spaces, as well as in people's gardens.
'During this latest heatwave, it is important everyone acts responsibly to prevent fires from occurring.
'As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly.
'In London, this is can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties.'
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Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Europe melts in killer heatwave: Spanish woman drops dead in street as country sees 'hottest ever June' while Brit goes missing on Greek island amid warnings not to go outside at continent's holiday hotspots
A punishing heatwave gripped Europe on Monday, prompting authorities to issue health and wildfire warnings with temperatures expected to soar again. Sweltering temperatures exceeded 40C (104F) across much of southern Europe over the weekend, with firefighters rallying to tackle blazes across the drying continent. Severe heat was recorded in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal, with locals and tourists alike taking shelter from the sweltering conditions. Authorities in Karpathos, Greece are now investigating the disappearance of a 55-year-old British tourist who has been missing since Friday, as meteorologists put out a health warning, anticipating air temperatures as high as 36C (97F). In Barcelona, Spain a woman died after finishing her shift as a road sweeper on Saturday, with authorities investigating the cause. Temperatures were expected to rise as high as 34C (93F) on Monday, and hit 46C (115F) in the arid south. This month is on course to be the hottest June on record in Spain. Neighbouring Portugal has advised people 'not to go out' during the hottest hours, reporting heat strokes and burns as the heatwave took hold. In Spain, temperatures reached 46C (115F) in the south, with this month set to be the hottest June on record. A woman died after finishing her shift as a street sweeper in Barcelona on Saturday, with authorities still investigating the cause. In Italy, a few regions were planning to ban some outdoor work activities during the hottest hours of the day in response to the record-high temperatures. Trade unions pushed the government to expand such measures at a national level. The Italian Health Ministry placed 21 out of 27 monitored cities under its highest heat alert, including top holiday destinations like Rome, Milan and Naples. It said it had reported a spike in heatstroke cases, mostly affecting the elderly, cancer patients and homeless people. The heat is expected to extend north and across other parts of western Europe early this week, with Paris on course for 39C and London receiving 35C today - the hottest day of the year so far. The summer's first major heatwave has seen authorities in the countries along the Mediterranean's northern coast urging people to seek shelter. Ambulances stood on standby near tourist hotspots as experts warned that such heatwaves, intensified by climate change, would become more frequent. Firefighters were on standby after blazes broke out Sunday in France and Turkey, fed by the heat and strong winds. Already last week, Greek firefighters had to battle a forest blaze on the coast south of Athens that forced some evacuations. The south of France dealt with an inferno of its own over the weekend as a huge blaze broke out in Aude, near Toulouse, burning through some 400 hectares of land. Authorities believe the fire was caused by a poorly extinguished barbecue, and a suspect has been arrested. 'This is unprecedented,' Agnes Pannier-Runacher, France's ecology transition minister said as a record 84 of the nation's 96 mainland departments were placed on the second-highest 'orange' heat alert. Only a small sliver of the country in the northwest was not sweltering, according to the Meteo France weather service, which said the heatwave was due to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday. To the east, Greece and Turkey have been hit hard by wildfires, causing chaos for tourists as hundreds of passengers were left stranded. A huge fire ripped through the popular resort of Foça, İzmir, in Turkey before strong winds fanned the flames and sent it towards neighbourhoods and residential areas. One suspect has been accused of starting the fire when they allegedly set fire to their own house, and tinder-dry conditions saw the blaze spread at pace. In the wake of the fire in Turkey, flights at İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport had closed temporarily as of 4pm local time on Sunday. Hundreds of passengers have now been left stranded as a result of the blazes. Planes were seen dumping large amounts of water over the infernos in an attempt to fight the blazes. Residents watched in horror as their homes went up in flames while firefighters spent more than 22 hours tackling the huge blaze across İzmir. The major emergency response involved 625 personnel, including six helicopters, 46 fire engines, nine bulldozers and 13 water supply vehicles. Around 550 residents were evacuated from some 175 homes in Ilıpınar, Foça. Four firefighters were reportedly affected by smoke poisoning, with two of them taken to hospital. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Another suggestion is that the fire may have been caused by a high-voltage power line. Governor Süleyman Elban urged residents to be cautious over the next few days. He said low humidity and high temperatures could lead to more fires. 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A Lancet Public Health study published last year highlighted the increasing risk of heat-related deaths because of climate change. The study predicted that heat-related deaths could more than quadruple by midcentury under current climate policies. The hottest place in the UK on Sunday was London's St James's Park - which hit a smouldering 31C. The country's weather service Meteo France put a record 84 out of its 101 regional departments on an orange heatwave alert - the second-highest - for Monday. Spain's weather service AEMET said temperatures in Extremadura and Andalusia, in the south and southwest, had reached up to 44C Sunday and issued a special warning amid the heatwave. Several areas in the southern half of Portugal, including Lisbon, are under a red warning until Monday night, said the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). 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It comes after fires devastated towns in Greece, where some regions have had to declare a state of emergency. On Thursday, a violent forest fire devastated several seaside towns east of Athens, damaging homes and prompting dozens of evacuations in a popular destination for Greek and foreign tourists. The fire broke around 12.30pm local time (9.30am UK time) near the towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, around 30 miles east of Athens, and forced the evacuation of five villages, according to Greek firefighters. It comes on the heels of another fire on the island of Chios - Greece's fifth-largest island - which as of Wednesday had destroyed more than 10,000 acres of land in four days. Temperatures reached up to 40 degrees Celsius in the Athens region on Thursday, with forecasts indicating that the heatwave could continue until Saturday. In the previous 24 hours, 45 fires had broken out in Greece, firefighters said. 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The Independent
42 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tourists warned as parts of Europe fry in extreme heatwave
Europe is currently enduring a series of intense heatwaves, with temperatures soaring above 40C across Italy, Spain, and Greece, prompting urgent warnings from local authorities regarding the heightened risk of wildfires. Experts are directly linking the escalating frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events to the climate crisis, indicating a concerning trend for the region. Before the weekend, severe heat gripped Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal, forcing both residents and holidaymakers to seek refuge from the scorching conditions. The sustained high temperatures underscore the growing challenge posed by a warming planet, as such extreme weather phenomena are projected to become an increasingly common and severe feature of Europe's southern landscape. Two-thirds of Portugal were on high alert on Sunday over extreme heat and wildfires, with temperatures expected to top 42C in Lisbon. In Italy, a few regions - Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia and Umbria - were planning to ban some outdoor work activities during the hottest hours of the day in response to the record high temperatures. Italian trade unions pushed the government to expand such measures at a national level. On Sunday, the Italian health ministry placed 21 out of 27 monitored cities under its highest heat alert, including top holiday destinations like Rome, Milan and Naples. In Rome, tourists tried to seek shade near popular spots like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, using umbrellas and drinking from public water fountains to stay cool. Similar scenes were reported in Milan and Naples, where street vendors sold lemonade to tourists and residents to offer some refreshment from the heat. Greece was again on high wildfire alert because of extreme weather, with the first summer heat wave expected to continue throughout the weekend. A large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, forcing evacuations and road closures near the ancient Temple of Poseidon. Strong winds spread the flames, damaging homes and sending smoke across the sky. There are also reports of some of the tourist islands limiting water supply during the heatwave. Experts warned that intense heat can affect daily life, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children. Local authorities advised against physical activity during the hottest hours of the day, and recommended drinking plenty of fluids. A Lancet Public Health study published last year highlighted the increasing risk of heat-related deaths because of climate change. The study predicted that heat-related deaths could more than quadruple by mid-century under current climate policies. While more people die from cold than heat, the study stressed that rising temperatures will offset the benefits of milder winters, leading to a significant net increase in heat-related mortality.
