UK braces for extreme heat with temperatures potentially reaching 38C

A four-day amber weather warning for extreme heat begins early on Monday, with forecasts suggesting temperatures could reach 38C (100F) in parts of England later next week.

The Met Office warning has been extended and is now in place from 01:00 BST on Monday until 23:59 BST on Thursday, reflecting growing certainty that exceptionally hot and humid conditions will continue through the middle of the week.

Large swathes of England and Wales are covered, although more northerly areas are under the warning only on Wednesday and Thursday.

The warning means population-wide impacts are likely, including serious health risks, disruption to daily routines and increased pressure on infrastructure.

Daytime temperatures are expected to exceed 30C (86F) widely across the warning area, with the hottest locations potentially reaching around 38C (100F).

Overnight temperatures are also forecast to remain unusually high, with some urban areas struggling to fall below 20 or 21C (68-70F), resulting in so-called tropical nights.

The heat is spreading from continental Europe where an extremely intense hot spell has developed.

Temperatures in parts of western France could climb to 43 or 44C (109-111F) over the next few days.

Red heatwave alerts have been issued for about half of the country for Monday. Paris is likely to reach 40C (104F) which would be unprecedented for June.

For a hot spell to officially become a heatwave, temperatures must exceed a threshold - which varies from 25-28C (77-82F) in different parts of the country - for three consecutive days.

An amber warning for Monday and Tuesday, external will come into force early Monday across parts of England and Wales, where temperatures are expected to reach the low to mid-30C.

It will then extend across further parts of England and Wales on Wednesday and Thursday, moving north to cover Manchester and north Wales, and further west towards Plymouth.