Britain could see 40°C summer days as early as this year, experts warn, as temperatures are set to soar this coming week.
Parts of England and Wales could see highs of 38°C on Wednesday and Thursday, when the peak of the heatwave is expected to take place the Met Office said. Amber extreme heat warnings have been put in place for the east and southeast of England, and parts of the southwest of England and Wales.
2026 has already been a milestone-setting year for the UK, boasting the hottest May on record at a sweltering 35.1°C at its peak.
45°C ‘possible in future extreme heatwaves’
“It is perfectly possible that UK temperatures will touch 40°C this year, and/or next,” said Bill McGuire, professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at UCL and author of The Fate of the World: A History and Future of the Climate Crisis.
