UK weather today: Extreme heat warning intensified as UK prepares to roast in 30C

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Health chiefs have upgraded a yellow alert for the weekend to an amber heat health alert in five regions as the Met Office said temperatures could reach 30C this weekend.

The orange alert, which covers South East England, West Midlands, East Midlands, East England and the South West, means there is a greater health risk of all and not only for the vulnerable.

Expected temperatures are highly likely to be reached quickly over the weekend in these regions, when we are also likely to see high overnight temperatures, the UK Health Security Agency said.

A plume of warm southern air is expected to push the mercury up, the Met Office said, with a chance of 30C for parts of England on Saturday.

These areas could be warmer than Ibiza and Milan, where temperatures will reach 28°C.

An amber alert indicates that the effects are likely to be felt throughout the health service, and that the entire population could suffer, not just the most vulnerable.

A yellow alert has also been issued for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber regions of England. London remains at this level.

Both alerts cover from 9am Friday to 9am Monday.

The alerts were issued as part of a new colour-coded warning system for heat waves, launched by the agency and the Met Office.

The heat is likely to put pressure on the NHS

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Thursday was the hottest day of the year, with temperatures at Hurn hitting 25.4C, above the previous record set at Porthmadog last week.

The big weather changes will start from Friday, according to Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern, as the high pressure that has brought easterly winds for three weeks or more moves eastward a little allowing the low pressure to approach from the southwest.

There has been little to no rain in the UK for the past three weeks, according to new figures. Less than a millimeter of rain has fallen in the South East and North East since May 31, with the rest of England seeing no rain.

These changes will increase humidity and lead to higher temperatures and an increased risk of showers and thunderstorms.

Clouds on Saturday morning will slowly begin to clear, giving way to plenty of sunny spells, according to the Met Office forecast.

As the day progresses, it will become increasingly hot and humid. The high temperatures are expected to trigger showers, some of which could be torrential and thundery, with more than 30-40mm likely to fall in an hour.

Rain, hail, wind and lightning are also expected to hit some areas, although other parts of the country will see no rain.

Some localized flooding is possible, the forecaster said.

Britons have been urged to watch out for extreme weather conditions

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A thunderstorm warning is in effect from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, in cities including Manchester, Cardiff and London.

Oliver Clayden of the Met Office said there could be travel disruption over the weekend.

After a prolonged dry spell, there is a risk of surface water flooding, he said.

There could be surface water issues that could disrupt travel as well as strong gusts in some parts of the country.

It will be the hottest weekend of the year, which is to be expected as summer approaches, Mr Clayden said.

This weekend, hail will also be mixed with strong gusts of wind and rain in parts of the country.

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