Basildon is under an amber warning for extreme heat from the Met Office until 9pm tonight, with temperatures set to reach 31°C. The warning covers all of Essex, Southend-on-Sea, and Thurrock, and carries a real risk of adverse health effects for vulnerable residents, including sunburn, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related illnesses.
Daytime highs will widely exceed 30°C across the region, peaking around 32-34°C in parts of London and East Anglia. Overnight, temperatures are unlikely to fall below the high teens, with some places remaining in the low 20s. The UK Health Security Agency has an amber heat-health alert in place for the East of England until 9am on Sunday 28 June, warning of increased pressure on healthcare services and elevated health risks for people aged over 65 or with pre-existing conditions.
The current heatwave reached its peak on Friday, when Santon Downham in Suffolk provisionally hit 37.3°C—marking the third consecutive day that the UK has set a new maximum temperature record for June. Chief Forecaster Andy Page described the exceptional conditions as “another marker on how climate change is shifting the dial on temperature extremes in the UK.” Fresher air is now spreading from the west, with temperatures expected to drop to around 27°C on Sunday.
The amber warning follows an earlier rare red warning issued for parts of Essex on 22 June and a red heat-health alert that covered the East of England from Wednesday to Thursday night. Residents are advised to stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm, and check transport timetables before travelling, as the heat may cause delays and potential power cuts.
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