An Amber Extreme Heat Warning takes hold across Thorpe St Andrew and the rest of Norfolk from the early hours of Monday morning, with the Met Office cautioning that a developing hot spell will bring widespread impacts to people and infrastructure. The warning runs from 1am on Monday 22 June until 11.59pm on Tuesday 23 June, as temperatures climb into the low to mid-30s Celsius during the day and stay above 20C overnight in built-up areas.
Tuesday is expected to be the hotter of the two days, with the mid-30s reached more widely across the region. The UK Health Security Agency has issued its own Amber Heat Health Alert for the East of England, lasting from midday on Thursday 18 June until 8pm on Tuesday, highlighting risks to the wider population rather than only the most vulnerable groups. A second Amber warning then stretches from midnight on Wednesday 24 June through to the end of Thursday 25 June, with the Met Office now forecasting peak temperatures of 38C and dew points around 22C that will make conditions feel especially oppressive.
Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree described the heatwave as “developing into an impactful severe weather event” that could affect public health, power supplies and water services. The current June temperature record of 35.6C, recorded in Southampton in 1976 and also matched in Camden Square in 1957, is now likely to be broken. Residents are being urged to stay cool, drink plenty of water and check on neighbours who may struggle in the heat. The Met Office warning system uses a traffic-light scale, with Amber signalling a medium likelihood of impacts and a medium risk of harm.
Separately, the RNLI is warning anyone tempted to cool off in the sea or rivers to beware of cold water shock. Samantha Hughes, the charity’s national water safety partner, explained that water temperatures remain low despite the warm air, and entering unexpectedly can trigger a sudden spike in breathing and heart rate that leads to panic. The Met Office also points to a heightened risk of water safety incidents as people head to the coast during the hot spell.
The heat builds on very warm weather that arrived on Sunday 21 June. Forecasts have shifted the peak of the heatwave from early in the week to Wednesday and Thursday, with the Amber warnings representing an expansion of earlier alerts. Ministry and health agency advice remains consistent: stay out of the sun during the hottest hours, keep living spaces cool, and look out for those at higher risk.
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