London Braces for 38C Heatwave as Met Office Issues Amber Warning

London is set to bake in a heatwave next week as temperatures soar to peaks of 38C over the course of two days. The Met Office has issued an amber heat warning across London and the south of England as the hot spell simmers through Monday and Tuesday, leading to widespread impacts on infrastructure, with water safety cited as a specific concern amid fears of drought.

Heatwave Duration and Peak Temperatures

The first day of the eight-day heatwave begins tomorrow (Monday), while temperatures are set to reach 38C on Tuesday, June 22, and Wednesday, June 23. The Met Office wrote: "Following very warm weather on Sunday, very high temperatures, accompanied by high humidity, are expected on Monday and especially Tuesday and will likely bring widespread impacts to people and infrastructure. In addition to high daytime maxima, temperatures overnight will remain very warm, especially in larger urban areas."

Travel Disruptions and Health Advice

Some delays are expected in road, rail, and air travel due to the extreme heat, and people should take extra care to protect themselves from sunburn and heat exhaustion, wearing sunscreen whenever they go outdoors. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates said: "While heatwave criteria will be met for some in the south and southeast of England over the weekend, with temperatures into the low 30s Celsius possible, the warmth will expand and intensify at the start of next week, which, coupled with high temperatures overnight and high humidity, leads to potential impacts."

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Context and Records

It follows a record-breaking heatwave in May, with temperatures of 35.1°C at Kew Gardens and 32.9°C at Cardiff's Bute Park, as well as 15 deaths in open water across the UK. Tuesday is set to be one of the hottest days of the year so far, and looks likely to beat the current June record of 35.6°C. In the UK, a heatwave is officially declared when a location records at least three consecutive days with temperatures meeting or exceeding the temperature threshold. This threshold varies by county, reflecting the diverse climate across the UK.