Extreme heat will grip the UK this week, with rare heat warnings in force in parts of the country.

Amber extreme heat warnings are in effect from Monday into Tuesday, before a red warning covers parts of central England into Wales. This becomes just the second ever red extreme heat warning following the first in the historic heatwave of July 2022.

Daily highs are expected to exceed 37 °C even in shaded areas, and rising to around 40 °C in places, threatening the all-time UK heat record of 40.3 °C. Increasing humidity will also make conditions more oppressive along with tropical nights for some.

In Ireland, yellow heat warnings are active from Tuesday, after a rather overcast Monday it is turning sunnier and hotter from Tuesday onwards.

Later in the week, Thursday could mark the peak of the heat. However, there is also potential for widespread thunderstorms across the north of England into Scotland.

Temperatures will dip again from Friday, but it will remain warm through the weekend.