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UK weather: Thunderstorm warning issued as heatwave intensifies UK weather: Thunderstorm warning issued as heatwave intensifies
(about 2 hours later)
A heatwave across the UK is to intensify on Saturday, bringing temperatures of up to 34C and a yellow warning for thunderstorms. Watch: Crowd cheers as the sun rises at Stonehenge on summer solstice
The Met Office issued the storm warning for parts of northern England, the Midlands and Wales from Saturday afternoon into Sunday, with the heat and humidity expected to fuel torrential downpours. A heatwave across the UK is set to intensify on Saturday, bringing temperatures of up to 34C and a yellow thunderstorms warning.
Ahead of the storms, temperatures soared to more than 30C across parts of the UK on Friday, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recording their warmest days of the year so far. The Met Office issued the warning for parts of northern England, the Midlands and Wales, from Saturday afternoon into Sunday, with the heat and humidity expected to fuel torrential downpours.
An amber heat-health alert in England issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will remain in force until Monday. Temperatures soared to more than 30C across parts of the UK on Friday, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recording their warmest days of the year so far.
The yellow weather warning for storms will remain in place from 15:00 BST on Saturday until 04:00 on Sunday, with the potential for localised flash flooding, large hail and lightning. Saturday is also the summer solstice - the longest day of the year - and people across the UK made the most of the early morning sun to celebrate at sites such as Stonehenge and Clastonbury Tor.
With the amber heat-health alert in place, the UKHSA warns of likely significant pressures across health and social care services. Originally a pagan tradition tied to agriculture, marking the solstice now has broad appeal.
This could include a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. "It's just lovely breathing points throughout the year," Morris dancer Grace told the BBC at Avebury henge, a neolithic stone circle in Wiltshire. "The sun stands still and it gives you a chance to stand still."
By Friday afternoon, many regions were expected to meet the criteria for a heatwave - which means a temperature threshold is sustained for three consecutive days - according to the Met Office. Matthew Watkins, a Cardiff resident, described seeing the sun rise over Avebury as "glorious" and "a special moment".
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The threshold varies across different regions, from 25C in northern and western parts of the UK to 28C in south-eastern England. While it will be a dry, at times bright start for many, the Met Office's yellow storm warning will remain in place from 15:00 BST on Saturday until 04:00 on Sunday, with the potential for localised flash flooding, large hail and lightning.
A heatwave was declared in London on Friday, where it passed the 28C threshold for three days in a row. An amber heat-health alert in England issued by the UK Health Security Agency is also in force until Monday.
On Thursday, Suffolk became the first area in the UK to officially enter a heatwave, after temperatures surpassed 27C for a third consecutive day. The UKHSA warns of likely significant pressures across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths - particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions.
The hot weather pushed north on Friday, with temperatures close to 30C in Albemarle, Northumberland and Newcastle - the hottest weather recorded in these areas since July 2022. By Friday afternoon, many regions met the criteria for a heatwave - meaning a temperature threshold is sustained for three consecutive days.
Wales saw a high of 30.8C in Whitechurch, Pembrokeshire, while Castlederg in Norther Ireland got to 29.5C, and 28.9C was recorded in Drumnadrochit, in the Scottish Highlands. The hot weather will also lead to thunderstorms - the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning
England recorded its highest temperature on Thursday of 32.2C. Heathrow reached a peak of 29.5C on Friday. The threshold varies across different regions, from 25C in northern and western parts of the UK to 28C in south-eastern England. Suffolk became the first area to officially enter a heatwave on Thursday, when temperatures surpassed 27C for a third day.
Humidity has been increasing through Friday into Saturday, making the heat feel more uncomfortable, particularly at night. An area of high pressure is helping to draw hot weather in from other parts of Western Europe. France and Spain could see temperatures close to 40C over the coming days.
The heat pushed north on Friday, with temperatures close to 30C in Albemarle, Northumberland and Newcastle - the hottest weather recorded in these areas since July 2022.
Wales saw a high of 30.8C in Whitechurch, Pembrokeshire, while Castlederg in Norther Ireland got to 29.5C, and 28.9C was recorded in Drumnadrochit, in the Scottish Highlands. England recorded its highest temperature on Thursday of 32.2C.
Humidity has been increasing through Friday into Saturday, making the heat feel more uncomfortable, particularly at night. As of 23:00 on Friday, temperatures were still around 24C for large parts of England and Wales.
Some areas are at risk of a "tropical night" - where overnight temperatures do not drop below 20C - over the next two days.Some areas are at risk of a "tropical night" - where overnight temperatures do not drop below 20C - over the next two days.
Minimum temperatures tend to be at the end of the night – not when people are going to bed to try to sleep. On Saturday night, as cooler and fresher air pushes in from the west, the highest overnight temperatures will be restricted to eastern England, where they may fall no lower than 18C.
At 23:00 on Friday ttemperatureswere still around 24C for large parts of England and Wales.
On Saturday night, as cooler and fresher air pushes in from the west, the highest temperatures overnight will be restricted to eastern England, where again they may fall no lower than 18C.
While heatwave conditions are likely to continue, some relief is anticipated on Sunday, when the south and east of England will dip to the high 20s. Elsewhere, cooler air will gradually sweep in from the west.While heatwave conditions are likely to continue, some relief is anticipated on Sunday, when the south and east of England will dip to the high 20s. Elsewhere, cooler air will gradually sweep in from the west.
Temperatures will drop further into Monday - but could rise towards the heatwave threshold again in the latter half of next week.Temperatures will drop further into Monday - but could rise towards the heatwave threshold again in the latter half of next week.
Despite the current heat being record-breaking for 2025, temperatures are still below the June peak of 35.6C in 1976. An area of high pressure is helping to draw the hot weather in
An area of high pressure is helping to draw hot weather in from other parts of Western Europe. France and Spain could see temperatures close to 40C over the coming days. Firefighters in England and Wales have responded to more than 550 wildfires across England and Wales so far this year - a 717% surge on the same period in 2024, the National Fire Chiefs Council said.
Firefighters have responded to more than 500 wildfires across England and Wales this year - a 717% surge on the same period in 2024, the National Fire Chiefs Council said. The association's chairman Phil Garrigan said it was "deeply concerned about the escalating threat of wildfires this summer", which he warned have "the potential to become more frequent, intense and dangerous".
NFCC Chairman Phil Garrigan said the organisation was "deeply concerned about the escalating threat of wildfires this summer", which he warned have "the potential to become more frequent, intense and dangerous".
The organisation is urging the public to be careful when lighting barbecues and handling objects, such as glass bottles, that can cause a fire outside.The organisation is urging the public to be careful when lighting barbecues and handling objects, such as glass bottles, that can cause a fire outside.
Despite the current heat being record-breaking for 2025, temperatures are still below the June peak of 35.6C in 1976.
While linking climate change with specific individual extreme weather events can be difficult, scientists say that climate change is generally making heatwaves hotter and longer.While linking climate change with specific individual extreme weather events can be difficult, scientists say that climate change is generally making heatwaves hotter and longer.
The World Weather Attribution group says that the chance of reaching 32C in June has increased by 100 times since the pre-industrial era.The World Weather Attribution group says that the chance of reaching 32C in June has increased by 100 times since the pre-industrial era.
Temperatures are expected to peak on Saturday
The hot weather will also lead to thunderstorms - the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning
Meanwhile, the chance of a three-day June heatwave had increased tenfold due to human-induced climate change, going from a one-in-50-year event to a one-in-five-year event.Meanwhile, the chance of a three-day June heatwave had increased tenfold due to human-induced climate change, going from a one-in-50-year event to a one-in-five-year event.
Ben Clarke, a researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, said that with "every fraction of a degree of warming, the UK will experience hotter, more dangerous heatwaves".Ben Clarke, a researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, said that with "every fraction of a degree of warming, the UK will experience hotter, more dangerous heatwaves".
He added: "This means more heat deaths, more pressure on the NHS, more transport disruptions, tougher work conditions and poorer air quality."He added: "This means more heat deaths, more pressure on the NHS, more transport disruptions, tougher work conditions and poorer air quality."
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA described heat as the "silent killer". Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, described heat as a "silent killer".
"It will impact all of us, even people who consider themselves healthy," he told BBC Breakfast. "It will impact all of us, even people who consider themselves healthy," he told the BBC, advising people to look out for vulnerable individuals on public transport and to keep an eye on elderly people.
He advised people to look out for vulnerable individuals on public transport and to keep an eye on elderly people. Additional reporting by Sophie Parker and Adam Clerck
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