Walton-on-Thames recorded its third heatwave of the year as temperatures reached 33°C on Thursday, according to the Met Office, with the current hot spell forecast to persist through the weekend. The mercury is expected to stay in the high 20s and low 30s, while parts of the UK could climb to the mid-30s, reaching 35°C on Thursday and potentially 36°C on Friday. An amber heat health alert covers the South East until 9pm on Sunday, 12 July, after the UK Health Security Agency escalated an earlier yellow warning.
The UV index in Walton-on-Thames sits at a Very High level of 8, leading officials to advise residents to avoid being outside or to seek shade between 11am and 3pm, with a shirt, sunscreen, and hat described as essential. Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said that sustained periods of warm weather can cause serious health problems. “It is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun,” he said. “Based on the current forecast, we don’t currently expect the health impacts to be as high as the heatwave we saw at the end of June but older adults and those with pre-existing conditions are still at risk.” Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree explained that high pressure will remain in charge through much of next week, but will gradually migrate northwards, shifting the hottest conditions towards the southwest.
The National Fire Chiefs Council has raised concerns about increased wildfire risk during the dry spell, urging extra care with disposable barbecues and cigarettes. Humidity levels, however, are lower than during the late June heatwave that triggered a rare red alert for the South East, meaning overnight cooling should provide some relief. The sun rose at 04:56 and will set at 21:17, offering nearly sixteen hours of daylight on Thursday.
This amber alert marks the third time this year that health officials have warned of high temperatures, following a red alert in late June—only the second such alert since July 2022. The Met Office forecast shows the heat will ease gradually, but the high UV and daytime peak temperatures mean the guidance to seek shade and check on vulnerable neighbours remains in force across Walton-on-Thames.
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