UK braces for 34C temperatures as heat health alerts to take effect in England

BBC News

12-08-2025

Update:
Date: 07:14 BST
Title: 'Nationally significant incident' over water shortfall
Content: Mark PoyntingClimate reporter
The Environment Agency says that the current shortfall of
water across England now qualifies as a 'nationally significant incident'.
The term reflects the impacts on the environment, such as
river and reservoir levels.
It is also based on the number of areas impacted, with most of the country in a state of drought or prolonged dry weather – the category
below drought.
It follows England's driest spring – March, April and May – for more than 100 years, according to the Met Office.
July rainfall was close to average, albeit with some
variability across the country.
That has helped to ensure no new regions have entered a status of drought since the Midlands on 15 July.
Update:
Date: 07:03 BST
Title: Watch: Flames near Madrid as wildfires burn across Spain and Portugal
Content: This video can not be played
Emergency crews have been battling multiple wildfires across Spain and Portugal, as a heatwave hits Europe.
Firefighters worked through the night on Monday in an effort to contain a blaze burning in the municipality of Tres Cantos, located 23km north of Madrid.
Update:
Date: 06:48 BST
Title: Southern Europe in grip of heatwave with wildfires flaring across the continent
Content: Nearly 700 firefighters have been tackling wildfires in Portugal since the weekend
The UK isn't alone in sizzling under a heatwave this week - parts of southern Europe are sweltering too as temperatures pass into the 40Cs.
In Italy, a young boy died of heatstroke on Monday, after being found unconscious in his family's car in Sardinia.
And across the country, 11 cities have been given a "level three" risk warning for today by the Italian health ministry. This means that in major cities like Bologna and Milan, "emergency conditions" are in place and residents are warned to avoid exposure to the sun between 11:00 and 18:00 - the hottest parts of the day.
Meanwhile in northern Spain, firefighters have been grappling with a fire near a Unesco-listed national park, with high temperatures and strong winds forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate.
Over the weekend, Trancoso in Portugal has also seen a huge blaze, with more than 650 firefighters and six aircraft tackling wildfires, according to AFP news agency.
Update:
Date: 06:34 BST
Title: Significant rise in the number of very hot days
Content: Mark PoyntingClimate reporter
It can be easy to forget just how quickly the UK's climate
is changing.
Days exceeding 30C – known as 'very hot' days by the Met
Office - might feel normal, but they used to be much rarer.
During the last decade, the number of these 'very hot' days
more than trebled compared with the 1961-1990 average, according to the Met Office, external.
It's well established that human-caused climate change is
making hot weather more likely and more intense.
As humans burn coal, oil and gas and cut down forests,
carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.
These gases act like a blanket, heating up the planet.
Update:
Date: 06:29 BST
Title: What the heat alerts mean and how long are they in place for?
Content: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued heat health warnings for all of England, which start from 09:00 BST today and are due to end at 18:00 on Wednesday.
Amber alerts for some:
Alerts in the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London and the South East have been upgraded to amber, from 09:00 BST today to 18:00 on Wednesday.
Yellow alerts for the rest:
The South West, Yorkshire and the Humber, North West and North East have yellow warnings in place over the same period.
The UKHSA has warned of significant impacts across health and social care services due to the high temperatures.
It also warns of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among the over-65s and those with health conditions.
Update:
Date: 06:24 BST
Title: Highs of 34C predicted as the UK enters another hot period
Content: Health alerts have been issued across large areas of England, as the UK braces for another sizzling week.
Highs of up to 34C are forecast for some parts, with most of the country due for temperatures of between 24 and 30C.
A patchwork of yellow and amber alerts has been issued, meaning possible travel disruption and increased demand on health services - but more on this shortly.
We will be keeping tabs on the latest temperatures and alerts across the day. Keep cool and stay with us.