UK issues new 'extreme heat' warning for England and Wales

Britain's weather service on Tuesday issued an amber "Extreme Heat" warning for parts of England and Wales

People walk as the sun sets on Clapham Common in London — People walk as the sun sets on Clapham Common, following a long period of hot weather and little rainfall, in London, Britain, August 8, 2022.

Britain's weather service on Tuesday issued an amber "Extreme Heat" warning for parts of England and Wales, with no respite in sight from hot dry conditions that have sparked fires, broken temperature records and strained the nation's infrastructure.

The amber warning -- the second-most severe after red -- will be in place from Thursday through to the end of Sunday and means that people vulnerable to extreme heat could face adverse health effects, the UK Met Office said.

A man sits under the shade of a tree on Clapham Common in London — A man sits under the shade of a tree on Clapham Common, following a long period of hot weather and little rainfall, in London, Britain, August 8, 2022.

Temperatures are expected to peak at 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) on Friday and may hit 36C in some places on Saturday.

The warning follows the driest July for England since 1935, when temperatures rose above 40C for the first time, turning a renewed spotlight to the impacts of climate change.

Other European nations have also faced a scorching heatwave in recent weeks with temperatures often exceeding 40C.

Britain, which is less used to such high temperatures, has struggled to cope.

Sunrise above London skyline as second heatwave is predicted for parts of the country, in Richmond Park, London — A deer and its fawn cross a road shortly after sunrise, with the London skyline seen behind, as a second heatwave is predicted for parts of the country, Richmond Park, London, Britain, August 8, 2022.

July's heatwave caused power outages, damaged airport runways, buckled rail tracks and ignited dozens of blazes in London, where the fire brigade faced its busiest week since World War Two.

Several water companies have since imposed usage restrictions and supermarkets have limited sales of disposable BBQs that firefighters warn can set light to tinder-dry grass. Ambulance services have received hundreds of calls from patients facing breathing difficulties, dizziness and fainting.

Dried out ground in Verulamium Park, following a long period of little rainfall and hot weather — A view of dried out ground in Verulamium Park, following a long period of little rainfall and hot weather, in St Albans, Britain, August 8, 2022.

The amber warning, which follows Britain's first-ever red "Extreme Heat" warning in July, covers much of the southern half of England and parts of eastern Wales.

Scientists have said the July heatwave was made at least 10 times more likely because of climate change.