Temperatures are expected to soar to 37C in parts of England on Thursday as a fresh heatwave sweeps across the country bringing drought, wildfires and urgent health warnings.Following persistent hot and dry weather this week, swathes of southern England can expect weather warmer than in the sunny Greek capital of Athens, which is forecast to see highs of 33C.Temperature highs will peak across Oxfordshire and the Chilterns on Thursday afternoon before cloudy weather brings some relief on Friday. An amber extreme heat warning has been issued, covering part of London.Almost three-quarters of England is now suffering from drought conditions, affecting 45 million people, with the country now on course to record its hottest ever summer.The Met Office forecasts highs of 34C in the capital around 4pm. But in some parts outside the capital, temperatures could swell to 37C, they say (Met Office)The prime minister has now urged retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues while the dry conditions endure in a desperate bid to curb the risk of wildfires breaking out.His comments came after chairing a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee in response to the prolonged spell of exceptionally hot and dry weather.England and Wales have already seen as many wildfires this year as in the whole of 2025.The Met Office’s deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone said the heatwave was expected to be fairly widespread across England and Wales.London and Oxford can expect the worst of the weather on Thursday (Met Office)“A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places,” he said. “Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.”The UK has experienced a consistent North-South split in the weather across this summer, with Scotland and Northern Ireland experiencing heavy spells of rain last weekend.Rare amber “extreme heat” warnings have been issued by the Met Office for London and parts of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire from 9am to midnight on Thursday.The Met Office’s latest forecast for Oxford read: “Temperatures rising quickly under strong sunshine. Feeling hot or locally very hot. As a result, an amber extreme heat warning has been issued, and this covers part of London. Maximum temperature 37 °C.”All of England is under a heat health alert (UKHSA/gov.uk)All of England is under an amber heat health alert lasting until 9pm on Friday.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned of risks to the lives of the elderly and vulnerable people and significant effects on health and social care services.Train passengers are also being urged to only travel if necessary by some operators on Thursday as services will be disrupted because of hot weather.The Chilterns and parts of Oxfordshire will bear the brunt of the heat on Thursday (Met Office)Chiltern Railways and East Midlands Railway issued alerts to “only travel if essential”.Other operators will either run a reduced timetable or are warning about the potential for short-notice cancellations.Southern Water has meanwhile applied for a rare drought order which would ban businesses from non-essential water use, including cleaning cars and filling non-domestic swimming pools, saying an “exceptional” lack of rain has threatened supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.It warned that 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area could face restricted supplies.Met Office five-day weather forecastTonightLondon and the south east can expect more dry conditions overnight from Wednesday with prolonged clear periods and variable cloud. The Met Office forecasts minumum temperatures of 16C.ThursdayVery warm becoming hot or very hot across much of England and Wales. Chance of an isolated evening shower in the northeast. Heavier showers for Northern Ireland and Scotland later.Temperatures quickly rising in the morning in the north west. Some cloud developing by afternoon, with maximum temperatures of 33C. Highs of 37C possible in Banbury, Oxfordshire.FridayMixed conditions, with sunny spells in the south. More cloud, showers and occasional rain in the north. Temperatures near normal, but warm in the southeast.Cloudier and fresher conditions can be expected in London and the northwest.SaturdayA continuation from Friday into Saturday with some odd showers expected nationwide.SundayDry with sunny spells on Sunday, before clouding over from the west late afternoon. A spell of more organised rain could arrive in the north west later in the day as winds strengthen.Dry with sunny spells in the middle of the country on Sunday, before clouding over through the afternoon.