A new yellow warning for heat has been issued across five regions today and is set to cover four days. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the alert for the East Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West from 12pm on July 4 until 5pm on July 8.

Yellow alerts are issued when minor impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the hot weather. This includes increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, greater risk to the lives of vulnerable people, and increased potential for indoor environments to become very warm.

Water‑related incidents may also increase, including risks from cold‑water shock and drowning.

The Met Office forecast for the weekend predicts “fine and dry” weather further south, with “temperatures gradually rising under the spells of strong sunshine”.

Looking ahead to next week, it adds that “dry and warm conditions with plenty of sunshine for most” are expected.

Tony Wisson, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: “Toward the weekend, high pressure will continue to build in across most of the UK as it extends from the Azores.

“This will lead to more settled, warm or very warm conditions for many, especially across England and Wales, though some rain may still affect the far north.

“The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20sC across parts of England, perhaps 30C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid to high 20sC in Wales.

“Although a return to heatwave conditions is looking increasingly likely for some areas, the likelihood of such extreme high temperatures or high levels of humidity as last week is currently low.”