The Weather Outlook

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Matty H
21 June 2026 09:18:28

I think some of the "it's just summer" crowd are likely to get caught out - although I also expect red warnings and, once those are issued, some schools to close etc.

Having lugged laptops across a playground in 40C in July 2022 - it's not an experience I ever want to repeat. Every breath burned, and that was frankly scary to experience.

Originally Posted by: Retron 

This is surely going to happen today? (Red weather warnings issued)

Yate, Nr Bristol

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Charmhills
21 June 2026 09:20:10

The expensive ones don't work either as it's simple physics - use a "swamp cooler" in the UK and get nothing but more humidity, it's just too humid already. It's a different story if dewpoints are near zero, but they're 20C right here, right now! Mind you, people are dumb enough to spend hundreds on a Dyson fan (which just moves air around), so doubtless they'll find a market...

A portable a/c, proper cooling with a refrigerant, is the way to go. Or even split a/c (which starts at £500 ish, ex-fitting).

Originally Posted by: Retron 

I am thinking eventually of getting an AC unit, especially for the Bedroom.

Loughborough, EM.

Knowledge is power, ignorance is weakness.

Duane.

Matty H
21 June 2026 09:22:30
MetO app showing 40. iPhone weather app showing 34 🤷‍♂️
Yate, Nr Bristol

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Devonian
21 June 2026 09:23:24

They are utter cack - just a fan with added humidity. They might knock a degree or so off on a very hot, very low humidity day but they're generally useless in the UK and shouldn't be marketed as they are. (I had one back in 2003, all that happened was the humidity went up and black mould grew in the filters... lovely.)

A proper portable a/c is the way to go if you want spot cooling.

Originally Posted by: Retron 

Yes, I've looked at them but thought of what you've said in the past...

But I've dug out our old dehumidifier which is a essentially a refrigeration unit (?) and will do enough I rekon. So progress. A proper a/c unit is going to be ~£500 and I need to give it some research.

Further, we're still not in the amber area and some of the outputs have us 'just' 30-32 tues/thurs which is manageable with lots of drinks and 'shuttered up'.

TimS
  • TimS
  • Advanced Member
21 June 2026 09:29:22
I think in the last few years the penny has started to drop on air conditioning, as it did on the continent after 2003.

It’s no longer an indulgent American-style luxury but a necessity. And for houses with solar panels - which should really be all houses - it can be cheap and green. Even on the grid a/c in a couple of rooms is way less energy intensive than central heating. 

You can be certain this week there will still be “it’s summer” types on social media. If the record doesn’t go to Heathrow then the fallback will be “the record we just broke was set way back in 1976. No warming since then until today”.

Brockley, South East London 30m asl
Devonian
21 June 2026 09:29:35

I remember going for a walk on the 40C day, it was hard just walking around the block. What I remember most was the burning heat radiating of the ground onto my legs, it was crazy. I suspect we may see wildfires too.

Originally Posted by: Heavy Weather 2013 

I fear so. Without rain (unlikely) things will be desiccated very rapidly, firstly in the places that have missed the rain earlier in the month. July needs to be wetter than average or fires are going to be another problem - no sign it will be. I bet fire services are getting ready - or they should be. Water companies need to be thinking about hose pipe bans too.

To think that August is still nearly six weeks away 😮

Devonian
21 June 2026 09:32:51

I think in the last few years the penny has started to drop on air conditioning, as it did on the continent after 2003.

It’s no longer an indulgent American-style luxury but a necessity. And for houses with solar panels - which should really be all houses - it can be cheap and green. Even on the grid a/c in a couple of rooms is way less energy intensive than central heating. 

You can be certain this week there will still be “it’s summer” types on social media. If the record doesn’t go to Heathrow then the fallback will be “the record we just broke was set way back in 1976. No warming since then until today”.

Originally Posted by: TimS 

I can't see how the record wont go tbh.

As to A/c yes but it's (as ever with humans) treating the symptoms not the cause. It took centuries to move away from that 'thinking with medicine - we have only years, well negative years actually with climate change.

The Beast from the East
21 June 2026 09:34:03

With a 93 year old, mobile but altzheimic, father to look after? Who would sit out in this and cook if I didn't stop him.

Matty, I am, honestly, happy for you. I know you enjoy hot weather, but for me this is a test of my resilience.

There are hundreds of thousands of people like my father, or me, who will be severely tested this week.

Originally Posted by: Devonian 

Agreed. People are going to die this week, though I imagine those stuck in care homes with pre conditions.

Purley, Surrey, 70m ASL

"We have some alternative facts for you"

Kelly-Ann Conway - former special adviser to the President

BYF1
  • BYF1
  • Advanced Member
21 June 2026 09:34:16
Meto are going to have to update there extreme heat warning for Tuesday to Thursday surely, Monday I wouldn't consider extreme for now for most unless something changes with the output, but those three midweek days looking like 35c-40c.
North downs, near Folkestone, 177m asl.
The Beast from the East
21 June 2026 09:35:56

We bought a portable A/C unit about 5 years back at a cost of about £150.

It felt like a luxury then but we've used it every summer since and it's been worth every penny. 

Originally Posted by: scillydave 

I just use a fan with a bag of ice hanging in front.  Seems to work! Though you need to replace the ice regularly

Purley, Surrey, 70m ASL

"We have some alternative facts for you"

Kelly-Ann Conway - former special adviser to the President

The Beast from the East
21 June 2026 09:37:56

Meto are going to have to update there extreme heat warning for Tuesday to Thursday surely, Monday I wouldn't consider extreme for now for most unless something changes with the output, but those three midweek days looking like 35c-40c.

Originally Posted by: BYF1 

Red warning is now likely, cant get any hotter than this at this latitude and location.  Remarkable when you consider the ground still has a lot of moisture in it 

Purley, Surrey, 70m ASL

"We have some alternative facts for you"

Kelly-Ann Conway - former special adviser to the President

Charmhills
21 June 2026 09:38:21
Met/o app now has 37c here on Thursday.🥵
Loughborough, EM.

Knowledge is power, ignorance is weakness.

Duane.

HighPressureGloom
21 June 2026 09:41:55

On which topic could this thread be split so those of us can find info about this heat and where those of us getting on in years (and with elderly dependents) can keep up with developments/thoughts without having to read of people enjoying this (for me, I think I would enjoy it we're I younger) sad weather event?

I don't want to either be upset by the views of other or indeed upset them with mine. I just want to get through this while being informed.

So something like a 'Heatwave - how to cope, what are the prospects of relief'? Thread and a 'Heatwave, will it last'  thread.

Originally Posted by: Devonian 

Just keep quiet if you have nothing but negativity to say about an unprecedented meteorological event on a weather forum, quite ridiculous really this call for safe spaces 🤣

Feels like the first day of the heat wave here in the beautiful north. Yesterday seemed just a regular perfect summers day.

The Beast from the East
21 June 2026 09:44:18

This is surely going to happen today? (Red weather warnings issued)

Originally Posted by: Matty H 

You are going to be in the sweet spot. I assume the red wont be for London, areas from reading west. 

Purley, Surrey, 70m ASL

"We have some alternative facts for you"

Kelly-Ann Conway - former special adviser to the President

Matty H
21 June 2026 09:45:00

You are going to be in the sweet spot. I assume the red wont be for London, areas from reading west. 

Originally Posted by: The Beast from the East 

Sweat*

Yate, Nr Bristol

TBFTEIARBSC

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Devonian
21 June 2026 10:00:33

Just keep quiet if you have nothing but negativity to say about an unprecedented meteorological event on a weather forum, quite ridiculous really this call for safe spaces 🤣

Feels like the first day of the heat wave here in the beautiful north. Yesterday seemed just a regular perfect summers day.

Originally Posted by: HighPressureGloom 

There's no need to be unpleasant ?

I've read lots of posts complaining about how rotten summer has been in the north - I understand that. It would help if you try to be understanding about the struggle thousands of people in the south will be going through this week. We are all weather enthusiasts but we're people not thermometers.

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HighPressureGloom
21 June 2026 10:05:53

There's no need to be unpleasant ?

I've read lots of posts complaining about how rotten summer has been in the north - I understand that. It would help if you try to be understanding about the struggle thousands of people in the south will be going through this week. We are all weather enthusiasts but we're people not thermometers.

Originally Posted by: Devonian 

To me the unpleasant action is trying to make weather enthusiasts feel some kind of cognitive dissonance towards their passion, 

but you keep playing the victim. 

Devonian
21 June 2026 10:07:59

To me the unpleasant action is trying to make weather enthusiasts feel some kind of cognitive dissonance towards their passion, 

but you keep playing the victim. 

Originally Posted by: HighPressureGloom 

And ditto. 

Matty H
21 June 2026 10:08:26
Amber warnings have had some sort of change. It’s flashed up on my iPhone but when I click the link it’s not actually showing what’s changed

I’ll be gobsmacked if there isn’t a red. I assume there will be if it starts to look like London will get the highest temps 

Yate, Nr Bristol

TBFTEIARBSC

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saxtemp
21 June 2026 10:09:55
+1
Charmhills
21 June 2026 10:18:26
Amber warning on heat updated to cover Thursday now.
Loughborough, EM.

Knowledge is power, ignorance is weakness.

Duane.

+1
BYF1
  • BYF1
  • Advanced Member
21 June 2026 10:23:10

Amber warnings have had some sort of change. It’s flashed up on my iPhone but when I click the link it’s not actually showing what’s changed

I’ll be gobsmacked if there isn’t a red. I assume there will be if it starts to look like London will get the highest temps 

Originally Posted by: Matty H 

About time for planning for the coming week ahead. May see a red if 40c is forecast I suspect.

North downs, near Folkestone, 177m asl.
Retron
21 June 2026 10:25:35

Met Office have finally extended the warning to 4 days, Monday to Thursday

https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings/gcpk9yegm#453b3bc1-aec7-4ed7-9fbc-1bdfdff3c776 

Originally Posted by: saxtemp 

Not quite extended - the Wed/Thu one is a separate warning and unlike the Mon/Tue one it's on the red track. (Warnings on the red track are likely to go red 24 hours out, FWIW, it's quite unusual to see an amber on the red track).

Leysdown, north Kent
scillydave
21 June 2026 10:26:28

Amber warnings have had some sort of change. It’s flashed up on my iPhone but when I click the link it’s not actually showing what’s changed

I’ll be gobsmacked if there isn’t a red. I assume there will be if it starts to look like London will get the highest temps 

Originally Posted by: Matty H 

The warnings have been updated and extended from Monday through till Thursday with the additional line that the heat may continue beyond this.

The big change is that the matrix has shifted across one to signify 'high impact' and only the level of uncertainty prevents it being red. That means that should the models continue predicting the temps they are then a red warning will be issued. Probably on Tuesday morning (for Wednesday/Thursdays temp peak) - they usually post up around 11am but if there is greater certainty then it'll be out tomorrow morning I think.

Currently living at roughly 65m asl North of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Formerly of, Birdlip, highest village in the Cotswolds and snow heaven in winter; Hawkinge in Kent - roof of the South downs and Isles of Scilly, paradise in the UK.

Brian Gaze
21 June 2026 10:58:42

The expensive ones don't work either as it's simple physics - use a "swamp cooler" in the UK and get nothing but more humidity, it's just too humid already. It's a different story if dewpoints are near zero, but they're 20C right here, right now! Mind you, people are dumb enough to spend hundreds on a Dyson fan (which just moves air around), so doubtless they'll find a market...

A portable a/c, proper cooling with a refrigerant, is the way to go. Or even split a/c (which starts at £500 ish, ex-fitting).

Originally Posted by: Retron 

I'd echo this. So called "swamp coolers" are generally a waste of time and money in the UK IMO. For anyone interested, there is a piece about them here: 

https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/heating-and-cooling/swamp-cooler.htm 

I would advise people to give serious consideration to split a/c, if they have the budget and are allowed to install it where they live. Alternatively, go for a portable a/c from a reputable retailer.

Another possibility for some people may be to sleep downstairs or in the garden. The garden option can actually be pleasant if you're lucky enough to live in a decent area.

PS: If anyone wants to create a seperate thread to focus and discuss their specific worries about the heatwave then feel free to do so. 

Brian Gaze

Berkhamsted

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