London could officially enter a heatwave this weekend as temperatures are forecast to climb above 30C.
The Met Office has said that southern parts of England could reach 30C by Friday, with the heatwave threshold likely to be met in some areas by Saturday and more widely on Sunday.
A heatwave is defined as three consecutive days with temperatures meeting or exceeding a location’s threshold, which is 28C for London and the surrounding counties.
Gregory Wolverson, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: "This week’s weather reflects a contrast we often see in summer, with more unsettled conditions passing to the north-west of the UK while heat builds in the south and east.
"As we move towards the weekend, we’ll see conditions become more widely settled and temperatures rise all round.
"Many parts of southern and eastern England are likely to see temperatures high enough to meet heatwave thresholds.
"It’s important to note that while temperatures may be high, we might not all see the wall-to-wall sunshine and blue skies we experienced back in May, because there is more cloud around.
"There is also a chance of thunderstorms developing in places, particularly later each day, which could bring heavy showers and localised impacts."
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow heat health alert for the region, warning of increased risks to vulnerable people, higher use of healthcare services, and the potential for indoor environments to become very warm.
The warning is in effect from 3pm on Wednesday until 8pm on Monday, June 22.
READ MORE:
- Top tips for fans ahead of Harry Styles shows at Wembley
- Best London pubs to watch England v Croatia World Cup game
- Theme, route and full line up revealed for Pride 2026 in London
The alert also noted a likely rise in water-related incidents, including drowning and cold water shock.
The Met Office said coastal visitors should remain cautious, as sea-surface temperatures are not yet at their summer peak.
Earlier in June, at least 15 people died after getting into difficulty in open water during a spell of hot weather.
Although cooler than in the south, temperatures are expected to rise across the country, with much of England reaching the high 20s later this week.
Some areas in the south and south-east could reach 33C by Monday, making parts of the UK hotter than Barbados, where temperatures are forecast to be between 26C and 30C on Sunday.
Matt Day, general manager at Beccles Lido in Suffolk, said the hot weather is likely to draw more visitors.
He said: "There’s a very obvious trend between forecast weather and the number of people that attend."
On a normal weekend, the Lido attracts 200 to 500 people, whereas during heatwaves, visitor numbers at weekends increase to 500 to 600 per day.
He said people attended "based on weather forecast rather than actual weather", and he expected bookings to "tail off" at times when thunderstorms were predicted.
The Met Office also noted that areas in the north and west of the UK could see spells of rain, despite the high temperatures elsewhere.
The heat is expected to persist into the start of next week, with temperatures remaining high across much of southern and eastern England.
Share