Helen Willetts

Record heat in the UK has pushed wildfire danger to exceptional levels across southern England and parts of the south Midlands, with many other areas at very high risk. Prolonged hot, dry weather and strengthening winds are accelerating vegetation drying and increasing the likelihood of fast‑spreading fires. Amber and yellow heat health alerts are in place through midweek, with temperatures widely in the high 20s and low 30s. Thunderstorms and showers are expected to develop gradually from the southwest early in the week, becoming more widespread by Thursday, with cooler conditions arriving by the end of the week to ease the heatwave.