Warning in place from Sunday to Tuesday with hot spell expected to peak on Monday or Tuesday

The Met Office has extended its danger-to-life warning for a heatwave set to hit much of England and Wales at the weekend.

The warning for extreme heat is in place from Sunday until the end of Tuesday, with the hot spell expected to peak on Monday or Tuesday.

The Met Office said: “Population-wide adverse health effects are likely to be experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potential serious illness or danger to life.”

It came as the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, triggered a severe weather emergency response, typically activated when temperatures plummet to freezing in the winter, to support rough sleepers in the capital during the heatwave.

City Hall has written to all London boroughs and rough sleeping services to ask them to conduct welfare checks on vulnerable people and provide sunscreen, water and information about staying cool and safe in the high temperatures.

Widespread disruption, including road closures and cancellations and delays to rail and air travel, are also possible, as temperatures across England and Wales look set to soar into the mid-30Cs or above.

Forecasters believe there is a 30% chance the mercury could pass the UK record of 38.7C (101.7F), set in Cambridge in 2019.

The heatwave is a result of hot air flowing to the UK from continental Europe. Heatwaves have been made hotter, longer and more frequent by climate change, and experts have warned of the need to adapt homes and cities in the UK for a future of more intense – and deadly – summer heat.

Dr Mark McCarthy, the head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, said: “The highest temperatures experienced in the UK tend to occur when our weather is influenced by air masses from continental Europe or north Africa – as it will be at the weekend – there is already a strongly embedded warming due to climate change across the continent, that is increasing the likelihood of challenging the existing UK temperature record.”

Ambulance services are already on the highest level of alert as difficulties with the hot weather combine with Covid absences among staff and ongoing delays handing patients over to A&E.

London ambulance service urged the public to help as the heat continues by only calling 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency, keeping hydrated and staying out of the sun during the hottest periods of the day.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK warned people about the dangers of trying to cool off in lakes, quarries, rivers and other waterways.

Hot weather can put a strain on the heart and lungs, with older people, those with pre-existing health conditions and young children particularly at risk. It can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion or even heatstroke, and affect the ability to work or concentrate.

People are being encouraged to keep their homes cool – by closing blinds or curtains and keeping bedrooms well ventilated at night.

In some areas, the heatwave comes after months of below-average rainfall, and water companies are urging households to save water, as demand surges in the face of the high temperatures.