UK Weather: Heat Alerts Extended as Temperatures Set to Reach 30°C This Weekend

Published: 16 August’ 2025. The English Chronicle Desk, English Chronicle Online

The UK is bracing for another hot weekend as heat health alerts remain in place across large parts of the country, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 30°C in some areas. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow warnings for regions including Yorkshire and the Humber, the East and West Midlands, London, the South East, the South West, and the East of England, remaining active until 6pm on Monday.

The warnings indicate that the high temperatures could have significant impacts on public health, particularly for older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Social care and healthcare services are expected to experience increased pressure as the heatwave continues, marking the fourth such event of the summer. A heatwave is defined as three consecutive days of high temperatures, and this latest surge meets that criterion.

Forecasters from the Met Office predict the hottest conditions in south-west England, with temperatures reaching around 30°C on Saturday and slightly lower, at 29°C, on Sunday. The weekend is expected to be dry and increasingly sunny, with low cloud gradually moving eastwards. While most regions will enjoy settled and sunny weather, the far south-west may experience strengthening winds.

The heatwave comes amid warnings of “nationally significant” water shortages. The National Drought Group, comprising the Met Office, government regulators, water companies, and other agencies, highlighted widespread environmental and agricultural challenges. Crops are under stress, livestock feed has reduced, wetlands and river wildlife are facing severe impacts, and the risk of wildfires has increased.

Fire services across the country have been actively responding to these conditions, particularly in Dorset, where a large wildfire at Holt Heath has burned through approximately 72 hectares. Fire crews from across England, including Merseyside, South Wales, Greater Manchester, and several other regions, have been mobilised to assist local emergency teams. Ben Selby, assistant general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, stressed the impact of years of austerity on firefighting resources, noting that reductions in staffing and equipment have left the service with diminished resilience.

The UKHSA has urged residents to take precautions during the heatwave: stay hydrated, remain indoors when possible, and check on vulnerable neighbours, friends, and family members. Officials continue to monitor both the weather and its wider impacts on health, agriculture, and the environment, as the nation contends with the challenges of prolonged high temperatures.