South East swelters with temperatures above 30C

A UK Health Security Agency yellow heat health alert is in effect in the South East

Temperatures have exceeded 30C in parts of south-east England on Thursday amid a heat health warning.

The hottest day of the year so far has been recorded with a temperature of 30.8C in Wisley, Surrey, on Thursday and temperatures still climbing, according to the Met Office.

An amber heat health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) came into effect on Thursday at noon and is expected to remain in place until 09:00 BST on Monday.

Temperatures are expected to reach further highs on Saturday, according to forecasters, with BBC Weather predicting highs of 31C in Guildford, Surrey, and 30C in Canterbury, Kent, and Crawley, West Sussex.

UKHSA warned of an impact on health and social services, possible travel disruption and increased demand for power exceeding capacity.

The alert, covering all of England, also warns of the risk of a "rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions".

A previous yellow alert - the least severe, followed by amber then red, on the UKHSA's system - came into effect on Wednesday.

The South East's previous temperature high in 2025 was 29.1C, which the Met Office recorded in Chertsey in May.

• When is a heatwave really a heatwave?

• How do heat health alerts work?

• Increased chance of a hot summer and heatwaves

• Six ways to keep your home cool in hot weather

• How to sleep in the heat

Temperatures surpassed 29C elsewhere in England on Wednesday.

The Met Office said high temperatures could see it declare the first official heatwave of the year.

This requires locations to reach their specified threshold temperatures for at least three consecutive days.

The temperature threshold in Kent and Sussex is 28C, while Surrey must hit 29C.

Aatif Butt and Amna Ameer say they are enjoying recent warm weather in Camberley

In Camberley, Aatif Butt told BBC Radio Surrey he was "enjoying" the warm weather.

"I think the weather is very good over here compared to the Middle East", where he was born and brought up, he said.

His partner, Amna Ameer, said their family was "feeling good" due to the heat after winter.

Mr Butt added, however, that they "definitely" would not be going out with their young son during the heat alert.

Irene Byrne, 77, said it concerned her when temperatures rise significantly

Fellow local resident Irene Byrne said it concerned her when she heard it was going to get hot.

The 77-year-old said going out earlier in the morning and resting later in the day "seems to work".

She said she was planning to open windows, keep her curtains closed and hydrate regularly to help her stay cool.

"You don't want it getting too hot," she said.

"It probably worries me more than it satisfies me."

Heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense and last longer because of human-induced climate change, experts have said.

The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.