Much of England and Wales is set to experience another day of extreme heat on Thursday, with temperatures predicted to reach the low to mid-30s Celsius. In certain areas of central southern England, the Midlands, and east and north-east Wales, Thursday's temperatures are expected to surpass those recorded on Wednesday, potentially reaching as high as 37 or 38 degrees Celsius. This would mark a second consecutive day of broken June temperature records.
For Scotland and Northern Ireland, warmer conditions are also anticipated, with many areas seeing highs between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. However, northern parts of Scotland are forecast to remain cooler, with temperatures around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.
The intense heat is already causing disruptions to the transport network, with train operators advising passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary. The Met Office's red extreme heat warning, the highest alert level, remains in effect for the south Midlands, south-east Wales, and southern England until midnight on Thursday. Amber extreme warnings are also in place for parts of England through Saturday.
While most of the UK is expected to remain sunny, the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy showers and thunderstorms in southwest England from 6 p.m. to midnight on Thursday. These conditions could bring gusty winds, intense rainfall, and a risk of localized flash flooding.