Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: “Temperatures (in areas covered by the amber warning) could reach highs of around 36, 37, possibly 38C.

“Now when you get these sorts of high temperatures, well that’s when we could see impacts to our infrastructure, our railway lines, our roads, they are not designed for this sort of heat.

“And more people are likely to be impacted by how hot it is with regards to their health.”

He added: “It could be the hottest day of the year so far if we get above 38C, and if we get above 38.5C, well it could be the hottest August day on record, but that’s actually pretty unlikely.”

Some 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales so far in 2026, the same as the record-breaking total for the whole of last year, the National Fire Chiefs Council said.

According to NFCC, this year’s figures have also surpassed the number of wildfires over the same period in 2025.

Between January 1 and August 12 last year, 869 wildfires were recorded, in what was then the worst year on record.

Over the same period in 2022, also one of the worst years for wildfires, the figure was 843.

NFCC chairman Phil Garrigan said: “Wildfires are becoming part of our new reality and we need to be honest about both the causes and the conditions that are driving them.

“While over 1,000 wildfires have been recorded so far this year, the incident numbers alone do not tell the full story.

“They do not capture the scale, duration and complexity of these incidents, or the impact they have on communities, the environment and fire and rescue services.

“As their impact grows, we must work with all stakeholders to ensure we have the right capabilities needed to protect our communities and to respond effectively when wildfires occur.”

Speaking yesterday, the prime minister warned that extreme heat could be “with us for some weeks yet”, as he urged people not to buy disposable BBQs.

Ahead of the Cobra meeting he said: “People should not be using those barbecues outside at this moment in time,” he said.

“The wildfires I mentioned, many of them have been created by disposable barbecues.”

The prime minister went on to say there had been a “significant number of excess deaths from heat this summer already”.

He urged the public to follow health advice, including to “check in on elderly friends and relatives who may need support at this particular moment in time”.

Temperatures are expected to peak at 38C this week, with a firefighter union chief warning the country faces a “national emergency” amid ongoing wildfires.

London is set to swelter today, with temperatures expected to reach 35C in the capital as the UK’s fifth widespread heatwave of the year reaches its peak.

Thursday is forecast to be the hottest day of the heatwave, with temperatures climbing into the mid-30s Celsius across much of eastern England, London and the southwest.

An amber warning for extreme heat is in place from 9am until 11.59pm today.

The warning means the whole population is at risk of heat-related illness, with vulnerable people facing particular risks.

London’s infrastructure is also expected to come under pressure as temperatures rise. The NHS and other emergency services are preparing for an increase in heat-related illnesses, including dehydration and heat exhaustion.

People travelling on the London Underground are advised to carry water and stay hydrated throughout the day. Anyone who begins to feel unwell should leave the train at the next available station and seek help if needed.

We’ll bring you the latest updates throughout the day as temperatures rise across the capital.