Summary

Watch: Today's weather forecast across the UK

Live Reporting

Edited by Matt Spivey, with BBC Weather's Simon King

  1. Roads closed as fire crews spend second night at Highland wildfires

    Fires were reported in the Dava area on Saturday nightPETER JOLLY

    Fires were reported in the Dava area of Scotland on Saturday night

    It is inevitable that with the dry and hot days comes an increased risk of wildfires spreading.

    Firefighters have spent a second night at the scene of wildfires north of Grantown-on-Spey in the Highlands.

    The alarm was raised at 17:50 BST on Saturday in woodland near Loch Allan and spread over an area of several miles.

    The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service says progress has been made controlling the blazes and adds that crews are monitoring the situation. Rain is forecast in parts of Scotland today.

    Three roads remain closed as a result of the fires: the A939 from Ferness to Granton-on-Spey; the A940 from Dava to Logie; and the B9007 from Duthill to Ferness.

  2. How are tennis fans in Wimbledon coping with the heat?

    Gem O'Reilly
    Reporting from Wimbledon for BBC Radio London

    It's already 24C (75.2F) degrees here in SW19 and temperatures are expected to soar past 30C (86F) later.

    Tennis fans who have joined Wimbledon's famous queue have set up umbrellas and deckchairs ahead of what could be a very long wait.

    Debbie and Reece sit on some deck chairs with the backdrop of those in the queue at wimbledonGem O'Reilly / BBC

    Debbie and her son Reece have been queuing since 06:30 BST

    The pair say they are ready for the hot weather and have been keeping cool using ice packs from their carefully-packed picnic.

    We've brought a picnic but we still want to get in and eat those strawberries and cream. It's brilliant to just be here, soaking up the sun and the atmosphere."

    Tennis fan Debbie at Wimbledon

  3. Heat health alerts across England extended into Wednesday
    Breaking

    The UK Health Security Agency has extended the heat health alerts in place across England.

    Amber alerts covering Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West will now remain in place until 09:00 BST on Wednesday.

    A yellow alert for the North West has also been extended to cover the same time frame.

    There is currently no alert in place for the North East.

    Health alerts serve to warn the public and provide guidance for NHS England, the government and healthcare professionals.

    Graphic explaining the different adverse weather health alert levels, from the lowest level green - where there is a minimal risk to health - to the highest level red - which poses a significant risk to life and a threat to critical infrastructure
  4. Analysis

    A small increase in Earth's average temperature can lead to higher heat extremes

    Mark Poynting
    Climate reporter

    It’s well-established that climate change is making heatwaves stronger and more likely.

    As humans burn coal, oil and gas and cut down forests, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.

    These gases act like a blanket, causing the planet to heat up.

    Even a small increase in the Earth’s average temperature can shift heat extremes to much higher levels.

    A graph depicting how a shift in the Earth's average temperature can make a difference to extreme hot weather. Two bell curves show depict the previous climate and the new climate. The new climate extends further into the hot weather and extreme hot weather sections

    In parts of south-east England, where the highest temperatures are expected, a heatwave is declared when three consecutive days reach 28C or above.

    Scientists at the World Weather Attribution group estimate that such conditions in June are now about 10 times more likely than before humans started to significantly warm the planet.

  5. 'Heatwave, what heatwave?' Business as usual in northern England

    Adam Goldsmith
    Live reporter

    Your voice banner
    Grey skies in CumbriaBBC Weather Watchers/George Groundhog

    Grey clouds gathering in Cumbria

    I just stepped out from our newsroom in central London's Broadcasting House to grab a coffee and can confirm it's already sweltering in the capital.

    We're hearing a much different story from our readers in the north of England, however.

    "Heatwave, what heatwave?" writes Richard, who says it's "business as usual" where he is in west Cumbria.

    Alec meanwhile tells us that where he's based, just outside Lancaster, "we are not suffering from the heat". Instead, he says it is currently "completely overcast and 19C".

    A map showing temperatures across England

  6. Intense heat across Europe with high temperatures set to continue

    Simon King
    BBC weather presenter and meteorologist

    A group of women wear hats and hold umbrellas to shield themselves from the scorching sun during the first heatwave of the year in LisbonGetty Images

    People in Lisbon shield themselves from the scorching sun

    England isn’t the only place to currently be experiencing a heatwave.

    It has been exceptionally hot across much of Europe over the last week.

    Over the weekend, both Spain and Portugal provisionally recorded their hottest June days on record.

    On Saturday, El Granado in Andalucía saw a temperature of 46C (114.8F) and on Sunday, in central Portugal, 46.6C (115.9F) was recorded in Mora, Évora.

    Heat with temperatures above 40C (104F) is set to continue on Monday across Europe, with red heat warnings in Portugal, coastal Croatia and Sardinia.

    Graphic map of Iberian peninsula showing high temperatures in Portugal and in Spain

  7. Early morning dog walks and deep blue skies in Brighton

    We are enjoying seeing all of your pictures being sent in via BBC Weather Watchers.

    Some of our favourites so far show pups being walked in the Midlands, flowers in bloom in Suffolk and Brighton looking resplendent under some clear blue skies.

    Keep your pics coming!

    A woman walks two dogs on some grass with trees in the backgroundBeefy / BBC Weather Watchers

    Two dogs are getting in their steps early in Halesowen, Dudley, ahead of temperatures getting warmer later

    The Royal Pavilion in Brighton is basking underneath the deep blue skies on the coastPogle / BBC Weather Watchers

    Deep blue skies have been pictured above the Royal Pavilion in Brighton

    colourful flowers in full bloomJuniperbeddy / BBC Weather Watchers

    Over in Lowestoft, Suffolk, a reader has sent in some images of her colourful flowers in full bloom

  8. Rail services issue warnings but little weather-related disruption so far

    Six Southeastern trains in sidlings. Photo taken from overheadPA Media

    Rail travel is likely to be impacted throughout the day and various services have issued warnings for passengers to check the latest information before travelling and to carry water.

    Currently National Rail has listed one weather-related disruption - affecting services between East Croydon and Burgess Hill from 10:00 BST - due to a speed restriction being implemented.

    Meanwhile, Southern Rail has advised that trains will be busier than usual, particularly on routes to the coast, advising travellers to allocate additional time for their journeys.

    Southeastern Railway has said coastal trains are expected to be busy between 10:30 and 13:30 and between 16:00 and 19:00 - asking passengers to try to avoid travelling during these periods.

    The London to Brighton line has also warned of potential delays.

  9. How to stay cool and safe today

    A little girl with sunglasses eating fresh ripe watermelon with her motherGetty Images

    While for many the warmer weather is generally a welcome change after months of dreary winter, it can be a bit of a nuisance and pose health risks for others.

    Here are some reminders and pointers on how to stay cool and safe today:

    • Make sure you’re drinking enough water and eat foods with a high water content, such as watermelon and cucumbers, to avoid dehydration
    • Wear loose-fitting clothing and breathable fabrics, such as cotton, linen and moisture-wicking synthetics
    • Opt for a hat and sunglasses for extra protection and to avoid direct sunlight
    • Stay in the shade - the NHS recommends avoiding the sun between 11:00 to 15:00 BST, generally the hottest part of the day
    • Use fans, ice and cool showers to reduce your body temperature
    • Close your windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature drops

  10. Overnight Wimbledon campers in high spirits despite heat

    Nigel and Vicky at Wimbledon with their number one and two tickets around their necks

    It could be the hottest opening day in Wimbledon's history, according to BBC Breakfast's weather presenter Carol Kirkwood. But spirits are high among those who have been queuing overnight for centre court tickets at the tennis.

    Vicky and Nigel from Swansea are number one and number two in the Wimbledon queue after camping overnight and say it has been "amazing, great fun".

    Vicky has the number one ticket and she tells BBC Breakfast that Nigel and her did over argue over who would get it.

    Meanwhile, a couple of friends who are numbers 284 and 285 in the queue say it was "boiling" waiting yesterday but thankfully was better in the evening once the sun went down.

    "We're very excited; really looking forwards to it," one of them tells BBC Breakfast.

    Friends who are numbers 284 and 285 in the queue

  11. A warm morning at Glastonbury as festival crowds head home

    Tamsin Curnow
    Reporting from Glastonbury

    Crowds heading home at Glastonbury with backpacks onAndy Bennett / BBC

    It’s a warm and muggy morning here after the final night of Glastonbury Festival.

    There’s heavy cloud cover at the moment and it feels like a lot of people have heeded the festival’s advice to head off early to avoid fierce heat this afternoon.

    A gentle stream of people has been heading out of the main pedestrian gate towards the bus station, where extra water taps have been set up to make sure everyone can get a cold drink.

    And of course as they head off site, it’s what they leave behind.

    The piles of recycling and rubbish are growing - notable spots so far include several air beds and a suitcase.

    Piles of rubbish at GlastonburyTamsin Selbie / BBC

  12. How much higher than usual are temperatures likely to be today?

    Simon King
    BBC weather presenter and meteorologist

    Now we’re in summer, you might expect there to be spells of hotter weather, even heatwaves.

    But it’s worth considering that 34°C (93.2F) or even 35°C (95F) is unusual for June and would make it one of the hottest June days on record.

    These temperatures are around 12°C above the average.

    Even widely across England and east Wales, temperatures on Monday will be about 8 - 10°C above where they would typically be.

    As previously mentioned, it’s fresher across Scotland and Northern Ireland - with temperatures only slightly above average, especially in the east.

    Weather graph of the UK showing an above average temperature spread across the country

  13. Wimbledon fans spend muggy night in queue

    Tennis fans queue outside Wimbledon championshipsReuters

    When Wimbledon opened its gates to last year’s tournament, those heading for the queue were advised to pack their umbrellas as rain threatened to delay play.

    This year, the UK’s unpredictable weather once again looks set to play its part as heat health warnings loom.

    Ahead of this year's tournament - which could see a record set for hottest opening day - a long line of campers spent a muggy night in tents in the park next door, where the traditional queue for tickets formed.

    “Brits aren’t terribly good at knowing how to operate in really hot temperatures,” All England Lawn Tennis Club CEO Sally Bolton tells BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

    But, she says her teams are well prepared, advising tennis fans to "take time out of the sun", as well as making use of the more than one hundred water points once they finally arrive on site.

    A man brushes his teeth in a tentPA Media

    Fans queued in tents overnight with tickets for the event few and far between

  14. Why are UK cities often the hottest spots in the country?

    Ben Rich
    Lead Weather presenter

    The Sun rises behind the Shard skyscraper in London with an orange sky in the backgroundReuters

    You may have noticed that temperatures are often much higher in urban areas than in the surrounding countryside.

    That is because of something called the urban heat island effect.

    During heatwaves, city centres are on average 4-6°C (7.2-10.8°F) warmer than surrounding areas according to the European Commission Joint Research Centre.

    In extreme cases the difference can be as much as 10°C (18°F) especially in very calm weather with little wind to mix the air.

    A key reason for this contrast is the hard, dark-coloured surfaces, like buildings and roads, that dominate urban landscapes.

    They absorb the Sun's energy rather than reflecting it, meaning they store heat. This is then slowly released into the surrounding air leading to higher temperatures, especially at night.

    Waste heat generated by air conditioning units, vehicles - and humans - adds to this even further.

  15. A weekend of intense temperatures across Europe - what is the picture like on the continent?

    Flames rise from forest area after a wildfire broke out in Seferihisar district, Izmir, TurkiyeGetty Images

    Flames rise from a forest in the area of Izmir, Turkey

    Temperatures across much of southern Europe are expected to remain above 40C (104F) today.

    Health and wildfire warnings were issued over the weekend because of hot air from north Africa.

    Two thirds of Portugal is on high alert; and there are similar conditions across Italy.

    Elsewhere, an intense wildfire blazed across the Turkish tourist resort of Foça forcing hundreds to be evacuated from their homes.

    A tourist buys a watermelon juice near Torre de Belem garden during the first heatwave of the year, in LisbonGetty Images

    A woman buys a juice near Torre de Belem garden in Lisbon

  16. When will the heatwave end?

    Simon King
    BBC weather presenter and meteorologist

    For many, the heatwave will end after today. Cooler air will spread in from the north and west on Tuesday so temperatures will fall across northern, western and central parts of the UK.

    The heat however will be squeezed into the far south-east of England where Tuesday could be even hotter. In Greater London, Surrey and Kent, there is a greater chance the maximum temperature somewhere reaches 35C (95F).

    That will be the last day of the heatwave here. By Wednesday, all of the UK will be cooler at 17 to 24C.

  17. Rain expected in western Scotland and Northern Ireland

    A body of water splits some land with a fence on one side and green small hills on the other.Teresa / BBC Weather Watchers

    Temperatures should be much cooler in Orkney with more chance of rain later in the day

    While the very warm – if not hot – weather will be felt widely across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will once again be fresher today with temperatures around 18°C to 23C (64.4 – 73.4F).

    Through the central belt of Scotland this morning it will be dry and by the afternoon it will turn cloudy with spells of rain which will turn more persistent in the evening.

    Temperatures in Edinburgh could reach as high as 23C, while in Lerwick it should be much cooler with highs of 15C.

    There will also be some cloud with rain gradually spread in from the west coast.

    Elsewhere in the other nations, Cardiff could see highs of 29°C and Belfast is set to see more rain showers and a gentle breeze compared to England, Wales and Scotland.

    Graphic showing the UK and various temperatures across the country ranging from 18 to 34 degrees

  18. Some Wimbledon weather stats as tournament opens gates during heatwave

    Stav Danaos
    BBC Weather

    Wimbledon queuePA Media

    As the world's oldest tennis tournament begins today, it's looking very likely that we could break opening day temperature records.

    Forecasts are currently suggesting values into the low 30s across the SW19 area.

    So far, the warmest start to the tournament was recorded on 25 June 2001, with a high of 29.3C (84.74F) – so we could break that record by a considerable amount.

    However, the hottest day recorded during the Wimbledon fortnight occurred on 1 July 2015, when temperatures soared to 35.7C just a few miles away at Kew Gardens.

    The highest overnight minimum temperature was 20.8C which was recorded on 27 June 1976 (during the infamous summer of that year).

    Conversely, the lowest maximum temperature during the tournament was just 12.0C on 24 June 1925, a reminder of the sharply contrasting temperatures in the UK - even during the summer months.

    Rainfall has often played a big part at the tournament and is almost seen as a “traditional feature” of Wimbledon by many.

    This year it’ll be a hot, dry and sunny start to the Championships, but the wettest opening day was back in 1969 on 23 June when 13.8mm of rain fell at Wimbledon Power Station.

    The wettest single day on record was way back on 28 June 1906 when 62.7mm (nearly 2.5 inches) of rain fell at nearby Kew Gardens.

    The wettest overall championship occurred in 1927, with 83.8mm (3.29 inches) of rain was recorded over 14 days at Raynes Park.

  20. How do heat health alerts work?

    The UK Health Security Agency warns the public in England when high or low temperatures could damage their health, it includes both heat health and cold health alerts

    Heat health alerts are issued between 1 June and 30 September, and cold health alerts are published between 1 November and 30 March.

    As well as warning the public, the system sends guidance directly to NHS England, the government and healthcare professionals during periods of adverse weather.

    As a reminder, an amber heat-health alert is in place until 18:00 BST tomorrow.

    Graphic explaining the different adverse weather health alert levels, from the lowest level green - where there is a minimal risk to health - to the highest level red - which poses a significant risk to life and a threat to critical infrastructure.