Temperatures are soaring across the capital as an intense heatwave grips much of the country.
Central southern England is expected to reach 34C today (June 22), with temperatures forecast to climb even higher in the days ahead.
The Met Office has issued an extreme amber heat warning from today through to Thursday (June 25), urging precautions to protect vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with existing health conditions.
Simon Partridge, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "It’s a very unusual, very rare spell of very hot weather, so it’s one of those ones where people should take care, try to keep their houses as cool as possible, check in on those that are vulnerable.
"So the very young and very old, in particular, are more vulnerable to extreme heat.
"But everybody will feel this because it will be very hot and the overnight temperatures, in particular, will mean that people won’t be getting as much sleep, probably, as they would usually do, so it will affect everyone.
"There’s also potential for impacts to transport as well.
"We know that when things get very warm, there can sometimes be issues with railway lines, and even the possibility that some roads might not be doing too well.
"If it gets too warm, you may even see a little bit of tarmac melting at times."
London, together with parts of southern England and the south east, is expected to bear the brunt of the heatwave.
Forecasters have warned that temperatures could reach 38C by Wednesday (June 24) and Thursday, potentially surpassing the UK’s all-time June record of 35.6C set in 1976.
Hot weather is expected to last until at least Thursday, and high humidity is likely to make conditions feel even more uncomfortable, with tropical nights predicted and little relief after sunset.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a heat health alert from Monday through to Friday, warning of increased risks to public health and pressure on healthcare services.
The alert covers most of England and includes warnings of increased mortality among older adults and those with pre-existing conditions.
Residents are being advised to stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight, and refrain from exercising during the hottest parts of the day, especially between 11am and 3pm.
The heat is also expected to disrupt transport services, with the possibility of issues with railway lines and some tarmac melting.
National Rail has advised travellers to check their journeys in advance, allow extra time, and carry water on their journeys to stay hydrated.
Mr Partridge also urged the public to exercise caution around open water.
He said: "We’re also asking as well for everybody to just be very wary around bodies of water, because in the last heatwave, unfortunately, quite a few people lost their lives by going into cold water and getting cold water shock.
"That’s still very much an issue, so just be careful how you cool yourself down.
"If there’s the option between a hose pipe and jumping in the lake, probably go for the hose pipe and just keep yourself safer."
The current heatwave comes after at least 15 people died after getting into trouble in open water during a hot spell in May.
Elsewhere in Europe, extreme temperatures are also being recorded, with Rome forecast to reach 37C and Madrid 39C on Monday.
Mr Partridge said climate change is making extreme heat events more common.
He said: "This is the second heatwave of this year already so it just shows that the warming climate means that these more extreme spells are becoming more frequent, and that’s unfortunately just the way things are going at the moment and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down."
Last summer was the hottest on record in the UK, with an average temperature of 16.1C between June and August.
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