Rare UK Red weather warning in place as temperatures soar to 40C
The Met Office has issued its first extreme heat weather warning covering much of England
Last updated 15th Jul 2022
The Met Office has issued its first ever red warning for extreme heat across the UK, as it warned of a "potentially very serious situation" increasing strain on hospital and train services.
It’s been warned that there will be an "exceptional hot spells of up to 40 degrees on Monday and Tuesday leading to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure."
Across England, hospital and train services are already under pressure from the heat, with the NHS facing a "surge" in demand from heat-related admissions.
There is concern that the weather could cause health problems across the population, not just among people vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potentially serious illness or danger to life.
Tuesday is likely to be the hottest day, with the potential to top the UK record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F) set in Cambridge in 2019, forecasters said.
Grahame Madge, Met Office spokesman, said: "We've just issued a red warning for extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday which is the first such warning ever issued.
"The warning covers an area from London up to Manchester and then up to the Vale of York.
"This is potentially a very serious situation."
Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse has said the Government is preparing for a "surge" in demand on the NHS and other services, and train operating company Avanti West Coast train timetables may be amended.