Britain’s Met Office is considering issuing an extreme heat warning as temperatures are forecast to reach 36C (96.8F) this week, with the country bracing for another intense heatwave.
Thursday is expected to be the hottest day of the week, with a possibility that temperatures could climb above 36C, according to Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan.
The warning comes after temperatures reached at least 30.6C on Sunday, bringing the number of days exceeding 30C in the UK this year to 35, a new national record.
Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-30s across large parts of the country on Wednesday, with similar conditions continuing across England and Wales on Thursday.
Morgan said the Met Office was considering whether conditions warranted an amber or red extreme heat warning, similar to alerts issued earlier in the summer.
The latest heatwave comes amid growing concern over the health impact of prolonged extreme temperatures. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that 2,877 excess deaths occurred during the May and June heatwaves, nearly twice the 1,504 recorded during the summer of 2025.
Persistent heat and low rainfall have also intensified drought conditions. A drought has recently been declared across Wales, while around half of England was placed under drought conditions last month following exceptionally low rainfall and sustained high temperatures.
Authorities are expected to closely monitor forecasts over the coming days before deciding whether to escalate the heat warning.