6 hours ago
7
Amber weather alerts have been issued across England as temperatures are expected to rise sharply across the country.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the warning on Thursday, and stated there could be “a rise in deaths” across all nine English regions, with “those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions” particularly at risk.
The UKHSA also warned that “significant impacts are likely” across health and social care services as a result of expected high temperatures across England. The alerts are expected to be in force from noon on Thursday until 9am on Monday.
Earlier this week, the Met Office warned the public that temperatures could rise in parts of the country in the coming days, with the hottest area, Humberside, predicted to reach 33C on Saturday and London expected to be above 30C.
The Met Office has also said the UK could exceed temperatures of 40C in the near future, and highs of 45C “may be possible” in the current climate. This would smash the record for the highest temperature in the UK, which is 40.3C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire recorded during the heatwave of summer 2022. A report by the Office for National Statistics and the UKHSA found there were 3,000 more deaths in England and Wales that summer than would usually be expected.
The heatwave is the latest in a series of recent extreme weather events in the UK. Between February and April this year England had its driest period on record, with the north-west declaring a drought in May and Yorkshire entering one last week.
Wildfires have also become a persistent problem in Britain. In the first four months of this year there were more than double the number of rural blazes than in the months that preceded the 2022 heatwave, with the risk to people, wildlife and habitats described as “catastrophic”.
In order to avoid any negative effects from the weather, the UKHSA recommends people keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm on the hottest days if possible, drink plenty of liquids and wear sunscreen and protective clothing if they do venture outside.
The UKHSA also recommends keeping a close eye on older people, in particular, as they are especially affected by the heat, with people aged 65 and over making up most of those dying during extreme weather events such as heatwaves.
