Dog owners across England are being urged to avoid walking their pets during the middle of the day until Tuesday, as a heatwave threatens to push temperatures into the mid-30s Celsius. Dogs are particularly vulnerable to overheating, especially when exercised in the heat of the day.
Temperature Forecast
Temperatures are expected to reach the high 20s widely, with the potential for 32°C in the south on Sunday and possibly 34°C or higher on Monday before conditions ease on Tuesday. Humidity will remain noticeably high throughout the period.
Official Advice
The Met Office recommends walking dogs early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are lower. A simple “five-second test” can help owners check if the ground is too hot: place your hand on the pavement—if it’s too hot to hold for five seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
Flat-faced breeds such as bulldogs and pugs, as well as older, overweight, or medically vulnerable dogs, are at greater risk and should be monitored closely.
Forecaster Comments
Steve Ramsdale, Met Office Chief Forecaster, said: “From the end of the week, a marked north–south split develops. High pressure over mainland Europe will allow increasingly warm and humid air to build across southern and eastern areas, while lower pressure close to the northwest keeps conditions more changeable.”
Deputy Chief Forecaster Gregory Wolverson added: “Some areas in the south and southeast of England are likely to see heatwave criteria met over the weekend, with the potential for temperatures to reach the low 30s in the warmest locations. Headline maximum temperatures for the period are: 32°C on Friday in East Anglia, 28°C on Saturday as the warmest air temporarily shifts away, 32°C in the south and southeast on Sunday, and the potential for 34°C in the same areas on Monday.”
There is a 40% chance of exceeding the current UK June maximum temperature record of 35.6°C, set in 1957 and 1976, and a lower chance of exceeding the June record for Wales. Hot conditions may persist deeper into next week, but confidence in this aspect is currently low.
