The Meteorological Service said a level two alert had been issued for much of southern and central England, with a lower level 1 warning for the north of England. The alarm scale – which has four levels – is designed to help healthcare workers manage periods of extreme temperatures. Meteorologists said parts of England could face heatwaves later this week, with hot winds sweeping further north over Spain, Portugal and France in the coming days. Sky News weather presenter Joanna Robinson said: “It will be very hot for most, hot in central and southern England from Wednesday, with temperatures likely to peak on Friday. “A high 34 C (93F) is possible somewhere in the south east of England – the last time we reached this value was in August 2020. “There is a small chance that we will reach or surpass the UK record of 35.6 C (96F) in June, which was recorded in Mayflower Park, Southampton in 1976.”
What are heat health alerts?
The heat alert service helps health authorities prepare for extremely hot weather in England between June and September. The UK Health and Safety Service issues notices and there are four levels. There is also level zero for long-term planning to reduce the risk of heatstroke. Level one (green) – the minimum vigilance during the summer months. Level two (yellow) – this is activated when there is a 60% or higher risk of reaching limit temperatures in one or more areas on at least two consecutive days and overnight. Social and health services should be prepared for rapid action to reduce damage from a possible heatwave. Level three (orange) – Heat action: activated when the Met Office confirms that threshold temperatures for one or more areas have been reached overnight and the forecast predicts a 90% or higher risk of threshold temperatures reaching the following day. Level 4 (Red) – national emergency: is when a heat wave is so intense or prolonged that it could lead to illness or death of healthy and healthy people – not just at-risk groups. If the temperature forecasts are accurate, parts of the Southeast will be warmer than Portugal, Jamaica, Costa Rica, the Canary Islands and Cyprus. Mercury can rise to 25 degrees Celsius in Wales and southwest on Friday, to 28 degrees in the northwest and 27 degrees to the northeast. Met Office Deputy Chief Dan Meteorologist Dan Rudman said temperature forecasts were unusual for this time of year. He said: “Many areas will also see some hot nights with minimal temperatures that are expected to be in high teens or even as low as 20 degrees Celsius for some overnight.” The highest temperature reached in the UK so far this year was 27.5 C (81.5 F) in Heathrow on 17 May. Weather Check: Enter your location to see your local forecast A heat wave is defined as three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures covering or exceeding the temperature limit of the heat wave. A spokesman for the Environment Agency said there was a low risk of drought, but warned that further hot and dry weather could put pressure on some areas. The British Red Cross has encouraged people to protect themselves and check in with vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbors during high temperatures. Meanwhile, animal charities have warned pet owners of the dangers of hot weather affecting animals in the face of rising temperatures this week. The RSPCA urges dog owners to be aware of the dangers of walking their pets – especially those with thick hair and underlying health conditions – during the warmer seasons. The Blue Cross urged cat owners to be careful when leaving windows open after a kitten fell from three floors and broke its leg. Elsewhere in Europe, Spain is experiencing its first heatwave for more than 40 years, with temperatures exceeding 40 C (104 F) in central and southern parts of the country.
