Amber heat alerts have been issued in England as the UK experiences its hottest day of the year so far, with a temperature of 32.2C recorded at Kew in west London.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the warningd 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 as the temperature is expected to rise sharply.
The UKHSA said “significant impacts” were also likely across health and social care services in England. The alerts came into force at midday on Thursday and were expected to remain in force until 9am on Monday.
The Met Office warned the public this week that temperatures could rise in parts of the country, with the hottest area, Humberside, predicted to reach 33C on Saturday and London expected to be above 30C.
It 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: 40.3C recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, 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 normally be expected.
The heatwave is the latest in a series of recent extreme weather events in the country. Between February and April, 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 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 when outside.
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It also recommends looking out for older people, in particular, as they are especially affected by the heat. People aged 65 and over make up most of those dying during extreme weather events such as heatwaves.
