Britain, Hungary issue heat amid record-breaking heatwave
"Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we're expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat," said Mark Sidaway, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office.
Leisure time at Shikhov Beach in Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20, 2026. The temperature in Baku hit 33 degrees Celsius in the afternoon on June 20. Shikhov Beach in Baku attracted numerous locals and tourists for swimming and leisure. (Xinhua)
LONDON - Britain's national weather service on Monday issued a rare red extreme heat warning for Wednesday and Thursday, as forecasters said the country's all-time June temperature record was very likely to be broken during an exceptionally hot and humid spell.
The Metroelogy Office said the red warning, covering parts of England and Wales, comes alongside existing amber extreme heat warnings that run from Monday through Thursday across much of southern and central England and large parts of Wales.
Temperatures are forecast to rise quickly on Monday, reaching 34 degrees Celsius in southern England, with a chance of thundery showers in some areas. The heat is expected to intensify on Tuesday, with highs of 37 degrees Celsius in southern England and 35 degrees Celsius in southeast Wales.
The peak of the heatwave is forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures are expected to climb to at least 39 degrees Celsius, with a chance of even higher readings in some places, according to the Met Office.
The June temperature record for Wales, currently 33.7 degrees Celsius set in 2000, is also likely to be surpassed.
British media reported that this is only the second red warning for extreme heat ever issued by the Met Office, and the first to include Wales.
"Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we're expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat," said Mark Sidaway, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office.
Sidaway also warned that this week's heat would be accompanied by high humidity and consecutive very warm nights, making it harder for people to recover from daytime heat.
The Met Office said the combination of extreme heat and humidity could affect public health, transport, power and water supplies. It also warned of increased risks around coastal areas, lakes and rivers as more people are likely to seek relief from the heat.
In Budapest, Hungarian authorities on Tuesday extended a nationwide second-degree heat alert until midnight on June 26 and announced that the warning level would be raised to a third-degree, the highest level, from June 27 through June 30 as extreme temperatures persist across the country.
The National Public Health and Pharmacy Center and the National Directorate General for Disaster Management said the decision was based on forecasts by Hungary's meteorological service HungaroMet.
Authorities warned that prolonged extreme heat could place significant physical and mental strain on the population, particularly children, the elderly, pregnant women and people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
Since the heat alert was first issued on Saturday, firefighters have been called nearly 100 times to check on elderly people living alone who had failed to respond to relatives or neighbors, the statement said.
Residents were urged to stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day and seek shelter in air-conditioned facilities where possible.
The authorities also warned of an elevated wildfire risk, noting that fire bans remain in effect in several counties, and reminded the public never to leave children or pets unattended in parked vehicles.
Hungary operates a three-tier heat warning system, with third-degree alerts issued when extreme temperatures are expected to pose a serious risk to public health.