Rising temperatures could trigger a new UK heatwave as soon as this weekend.
Highs of 30C are forecast in southern England, with hot weather expected to spread more widely across the country in the days ahead.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow heat health alert covering the East Midlands, East, South East, South West, and London from midday on Saturday through to 5pm on Wednesday.
Heatwave could hit UK this week as heat health alerts issued
A spokesperson for the UKHSA said: "Within the warning area, minor impacts were likely across health and social care services because of the high temperatures, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life to the same group."
The warning, prompting extra health and care support, comes as the Met Office predicts the earliest possible start of a heatwave in Greater London and neighbouring areas by Sunday.
A heatwave is declared in the UK when temperatures meet or exceed threshold levels for three consecutive days, this is 28C in London and the South East, and 25C in northern regions.
Much of the UK is expected to fall below these levels for the rest of the week.
However, temperatures could reach 28C in and around Greater London by Friday.
It comes due to high pressure currently building from the Azores towards Portugal and Spain.
The heat is forecast to build across France and southern Britain by the weekend, with some areas reaching heatwave threshold temperatures.
Daytime highs are likely to stay in the low to mid-20s until the weekend before climbing into the upper 20s and low 30s.
Though conditions are unlikely to match the extreme temperatures seen in late June, officials warn the heat could still pose health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations.
The UKHSA alert warns of a "greater risk to life for vulnerable people" and anticipates increased demand on health and social care services.
The agency has also raised concerns about potential increases in water-related incidents, including cold water shock and drowning.
Additional concerns include the risk of "thunderstorm asthma," where stormy conditions can draw high concentrations of pollen and pollution deep into the lungs, worsening breathing problems.
Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: "Most people with hay fever will experience their normal range of symptoms—sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes, but these will be more extreme.
"However, more worryingly, hay fever can cause asthma symptoms to worsen and thunderstorm conditions can cause even mild symptoms to become severe, such as difficulty breathing and chest tightening.
"For anyone affected by asthma and hay fever, it’s important to be prepared and diligent in taking allergy treatments and medications to manage symptoms.
"Anyone who experiences difficulty breathing should seek medical help without delay."
Allergy UK recommends staying indoors before, during, and after thunderstorms, wearing a mask outside to limit pollen exposure, taking regular medication, carrying a reliever inhaler, and closely monitoring symptoms.
The new UKHSA alert follows last week's intense heatwave, during which the Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat and the UKHSA activated Red heat health alerts.
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Friday (June 26) saw a provisional UK June temperature record, with Lingwood in Norfolk reaching 37.7C.
This surpassed the previous June record of 35.6C set in 1976 by more than 2C.
Northern areas are expected to see some rain and stronger winds midweek, with generally unsettled conditions in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
How did you cope through the last heatwave? Let us know in the comments.
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