Amber health alert for heat for nearly all of England with another 33C scorcher on the way for Sheffield
A fifth heatwave of 2026 looms
An amber heat health alert has been issued for Sheffield and nearly all of England as the city faces four days of soaring temperatures.
The Met Office predicts the mercury to jump to 28C on Tuesday, August 11 followed by temperatures of more than 30C on both Wednesday and Thursday this week.
It is expected to peak at 33C on late Thursday afternoon. Combined with 27C temperatures on Friday, it marks the fifth heatwave of 2026.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) has now issued an amber warning over the heat , which lasts until 9am on Tuesday, August 11, until 9pm on Friday, August 14.
Under the amber heat health warning the UK Health Security Agency urged Sheffield residents to keep out of the sun, avoid exercise, have cold food and drinks, close windows during the day and open them at night and use an electric fan.
An amber alert for heat is in place for every region of England, except the North East, which only has a yellow warning. Experts expect a red warning for southern regions and London is likely.
Meanwhile, after what was in combination the warmest, driest July on record in the city, there is still little to no rain in sight for Sheffield, although the BBC currently predicts light rain on August 16 and 17.
‘Warmest, driest’ July on record in Sheffield
July 2026 was the driest on record for both England and Wales, and saw only 20 per cent or less of their typical rainfall for the season.
In Sheffield, it was the second driest July on record, beaten only by 1911.
The city saw no rain at all for 23 days, although a longer dry spell was recorded in April/May 2025, where there was no rain for 29 days.
Alistair McLean, who monitors the weather station at Weston Park Museum, said: “July 2026 was the second warmest July on record, and in fact the second warmest on record of any month, equal with 2018, but beaten by 2006.
“But both 2006 and 2018 were substantially wetter. When you combine temperatures with the dry weather, it’s clear that we haven’t had any month on record that has been warmer and drier in combination.
“July 1911 is the closest, which saw a mean temperature of 17.9 and rainfall of 3.9mm. July 2026 had a mean temperature of 19.4 and rainfall of 5.3mm.”