The UK’s weather agency has issued an amber extreme heat warning as temperatures are forecast to reach around 38°C (100.4F) in parts of the country.

The Met Office, in an update on Thursday, said temperatures will rise into the mid-30s Celsius across large areas, with possible impacts on travel, health, and water safety.

“While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday bring the potential for impacts for some,” the UK’s chief forecaster, Chris Bulmer, stated.

Noting that high pressure was becoming apparent, Mr Bulmer attributed the development to hot air coming from Europe.

Meanwhile, an update in the early hours of Friday (today) showed showers will cover most of the country, with heavy rain expected in multiple areas.

Rain will come as a relief in places in England and Wales which have witnessed drought and wildfires.

“Hot and sunny in the southeast. Increasingly humid for Wales and western/northern England with variable cloud and possible afternoon thunderstorms. Fresher, albeit rather cloudy, conditions for Northern Ireland and Scotland after early heavy and thundery rain clears the east.

“Thunderstorms pushing eastwards overnight, with heavy downpours particularly possible over eastern England. Warm and muggy in the southeast, but fresher than recent nights elsewhere. A few showers for northern Scotland,” the Met Office stated.

The update came after the UK Health Security Agency disclosed that an estimated 2,877 people died as a result of intense heatwaves between May and June, with 2026 likely to record the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record in the UK.