Met Office forecasters are weighing up whether to issue amber or red extreme heat warnings ahead of what could prove to be the hottest day of the year on Thursday. The current 2026 temperature record stands at 37.7C, recorded on 26th June in Lingwood, Norfolk.

Temperatures are forecast to peak at 29C today and 30C tomorrow, before surging into the mid-30s from Wednesday. The GFS model indicates highs of 36C are possible across western parts of England on Wednesday.

Much of the south could reach 35C, with South Wales hitting 33C, the Midlands climbing to 34C, and areas as far north as Yorkshire rising to 33C. Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to remain considerably cooler by comparison.

Thursday is set to be the most sweltering day of the week, with the GFS model showing a scorching 39C possible in Gloucestershire, while 38C could be recorded widely across western and southern England.

Temperature anomaly maps for Thursday show England and Wales shaded in black, indicating where mercury levels will rise well above the seasonal norm for this time of year.

Altogether, the GFS model suggests 12 counties — all in England — could reach 38C or above on Thursday.

The Met Office has said it is considering issuing amber or red extreme heat warnings as temperatures climb into the mid to high-30s later this week.

“We’ll probably see highs reaching the mid-30s quite widely on Wednesday, and indeed on Thursday too for England and Wales,” Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said.

“On Wednesday, probably the Midlands, maybe a little bit further south, the M4 corridor, west of London, up towards the Midlands, is where we might have a small chance of reaching 36C in one or two spots.

“But Thursday at this stage looks the most likely hottest day of the week. So 36C is a fairly reasonable probability locally on Thursday and there’s a small chance it could get even higher than that.”