The Met Office has been forced to issue amber and red weather weather warnings this week as temperatures in some parts of the UK could rise as high as 40C12:46, 22 Jun 2026Updated 12:47, 22 Jun 2026People across England and Wales have been urged to "avoid any exercise" between 11am and 3pm as extreme temperatures of up to 40C are on the cards.Temperature records are expected to be broken in the coming days as red and amber warnings for extreme heat have been issued. Almost 100 areas will be affected by the scorching temperatures, which are likely to cause population-wide adverse health effects.The regions affected include London and South East England, East of England, North West England, South West England, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and Wales. The Met Office has warned people to keep out of the sun and avoid any exercise between 11am and 3pm as that is when sunshine will be strongest.The forecaster also advised people to drink plenty of fluids, close curtains and wear sunscreen.An amber weather warning for extreme heat came into force this morning. It is in place until midnight on Tuesday, when another will come into force and remain in place until midnight on Thursday. The red warning will be in place between 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday.Temperatures are expected to exceed 30C, with some of the hottest areas potentially reaching 38-40C. Under the red warning for extreme heat, temperatures in the shade will exceed 37C and likely rise to 38-40C in some places.The Met Office said: "Temperatures will quickly rise on Monday and are forecast to reach 34°C in southern parts of England. However, this brings with it the chance of thundery showers for some. The heat will build further into Tuesday, with highs of 37°C forecast for southern England and 35°C in southeast Wales."The peak of the heatwave is now forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures are expected to climb to at least 39°C and there remains a chance of this being exceeded in places. By Friday conditions will be less hot, with highs of 32°C forecast across eastern areas."Overnight temperatures will also be very high, with widespread Tropical Nights, where the temperature does not drop below 20°C, across parts of England and Wales, especially in urban areas. Humidity is also a factor, making this heatwave even more impactful with heat stress a danger to all."Content cannot be displayed without consentAs a result of the abnormally high temperatures, the Met Office explained that the June record for the highest temperature in the UK will "very likely be broken".The current record sits at 35.6C in Southampton in June 1976 and Camden Square in June 1957. The June temperature record in Wales - 33.7C in 2000 - is also likely to be broken.The hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK is 40.3C in July 2022 at Coningsby in Lincolnshire, meaning this record could also be broken in the coming days.Article continues belowAreas impacted by the red and amber heatwave warningsDerbyDerbyshireLeicesterLeicestershireLincolnshireNorthamptonshireNottinghamNottinghamshireRutlandBedfordCambridgeshireCentral BedfordshireEssexHertfordshireLutonNorfolkPeterboroughSouthend-on-SeaSuffolkThurrockBracknell ForestBrighton and HoveBuckinghamshireEast SussexGreater LondonHampshireIsle of WightKentMedwayMilton KeynesOxfordshirePortsmouthReadingSloughSouthamptonSurreyWest BerkshireWest SussexWindsor and MaidenheadWokinghamBlackburn with DarwenBlackpoolCheshire EastCheshire West and ChesterGreater ManchesterHaltonLancashireMerseysideWarringtonBath and North East SomersetBournemouth Christchurch and PooleBristolCornwallDevonDorsetGloucestershireNorth SomersetPlymouthSomersetSouth GloucestershireSwindonTorbayWiltshireBlaenau GwentBridgendCaerphillyCardiffCarmarthenshireCeredigionConwyDenbighshireFlintshireGwyneddIsle of AngleseyMerthyr TydfilMonmouthshireNeath Port TalbotNewportPembrokeshirePowysRhondda Cynon TafSwanseaTorfaenVale of GlamorganWrexhamHerefordshireShropshireStaffordshireStoke-on-TrentTelford and WrekinWarwickshireWest Midlands ConurbationWorcestershireEast Riding of YorkshireNorth LincolnshireNorth YorkshireSouth YorkshireWest Yorkshire