Fan on hot day

The UK is facing its fourth heatwave of the year, with some parts of the south Midlands expected to see 34°C today (Tuesday 12 August).

Amber health alerts have been issued in five parts of England (London, the South East, East of England, East Midlands and West Midlands) starting on Tuesday and ending at 6pm on Wednesday, 13 August.

Yellow heat health alerts cover all of England at this time, too.

Amber alerts mean we “may begin to see some health impacts across the wider population,” with over-65s and people with pre-existing illnesses at increased risk.

We've got a hot afternoon ahead of us with lots of strong sunshine and high UV levels ☀️

Some cloud may make skies hazy at times and bring an isolated shower, but for many it will stay dry pic.twitter.com/bowiqn5U8z

— Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2025

Why are heatwaves so dangerous in the UK?

The UK is poorly equipped to handle extremes of heat, which are becoming more common.

During the summer of 2022, for instance, which saw temperatures soar to 40°C, 3,000 people died........

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