UK households urged to shut windows and keep curtains facing 1 direction today

Britain has been sweltering under scorching temperatures for several days, and the heat is set to continue into Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, with parts of the country expected to bake in highs of up to 35C. The mercury soared again over the weekend, with forecasters warning that today (Sunday) could be the hottest day so far.

An amber alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is now in force across much of the country, covering millions in the East Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London. As the heatwave intensifies, households are being urged to take simple steps to keep their homes cool and protect vulnerable people. One piece of advice from the UKHSA is proving particularly important. "Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun," the agency said.

Essentially, closing windows and curtains on the sunny side of your house helps to keep it cooler by blocking direct sunlight and the heat it carries.

Sunlight entering through windows converts to heat, raising the room's temperature.

By closing these barriers, you minimise heat gain and maintain a cooler indoor environment.

Those with south-facing windows and doors are especially urged to keep them shut during the day to prevent rooms from overheating.

Closing curtains also helps block UV rays that can quickly raise indoor temperatures.

On top of that, people are being reminded to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when temperatures tend to peak.

The advice is especially important for older adults, young children and those with health conditions.

Mike Silverstone, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said the hot weather is being fuelled by a developing heatwave across western Europe.

He added: "Higher temperatures building over the weekend and into early next week will bring particularly warm, hot or even very hot conditions for some, especially in the southeast and East Anglia," he said.

Temperatures of around 34C are expected on Monday, especially in Greater London.

"The heat is most likely to gradually relent from the west on Tuesday and into Wednesday, with a return towards more average temperatures for the second half of next week," Silverstone added.

Scroll down to view our interactive map to see what the temperatures will be like in your area.

Glastonbury festivalgoers are also being warned to stay safe, with highs of 27C expected around 5pm on Sunday as Rod Stewart takes to the Pyramid Stage.

Sunscreen, shade and hydration have all been urged by organisers.

Meanwhile, dramatic weather maps from Netweather.tv have shown deep red colours blanketing the southeast on Monday afternoon.

Some places could hit 35C or higher, making conditions uncomfortable for millions.

But there may be some relief in sight. According to WXCharts, rain is expected to sweep across parts of the UK from Monday evening into Tuesday, bringing cooler and more bearable conditions.