The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for extreme heat across 71 areas of the UK from Monday, stressing the sweltering conditions could lead to power cuts and a risk to our health
The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for extreme heat on Monday across 71 areas nationwide – and has cautioned that the scorching conditions could trigger power cuts.
The forecaster warned that the blistering temperatures could cause “heat-sensitive systems and equipment” to fail, leading to “power cuts and the loss of other services to homes and businesses”.
The weather warnings will take effect at 1am on Monday (June 22) and will remain until 11.59pm on Tuesday (June 23). The Met Office has cautioned that a “developing hot spell through Monday and Tuesday will likely lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure”.
Forecasters have also raised their temperature predictions, with highs of 35C anticipated on Tuesday and Wednesday and increasing confidence that the UK’s June temperature record of 35.6C, established in Southampton in 1976, could be surpassed. The Express reports the mercury already hit 31.2C in Writtle, Essex, on Friday.
Should a power cut occur, the Met Office provides the following guidance;
- If electricity is crucial for any medical equipment you have, please contact your DNO at any time as they may be able to put you on their Priority Register (see below) for assistance during any power outage
- Make sure you have multiple torches along with extra batteries
- Make sure you keep your mobile phone charged so you can make calls in case of an emergency
- Keep fridges and freezers closed, with a blanket over as they will stay cold for many hours
- Keep important documents safe and handy
- Look out for elderly neighbours and ensure they are prepared for a possible power cut
- Switch off appliances – turn off items such as irons, ovens, electric fires and fryers as they could pose a hazard if the power comes back on when you are not there
- For people using a digital landline who don’t have a mobile phone, or who live in an area with poor/no mobile signal, speak to your communications provider about additional support they can offer you in advance
East Midlands
Derby
Derbyshire
Leicester
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Northamptonshire
Nottingham Nottinghamshire
Rutland
East of England
Bedford
Cambridgeshire
Central Bedfordshire
Essex
Hertfordshire
Luton
Norfolk
Peterborough
Southend-on-Sea
Suffolk
Thurrock
London & South East England
Bracknell Forest
Brighton and Hove
Buckinghamshire
East Sussex
Greater London
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Kent Medway
Milton Keynes
Oxfordshire
Portsmouth
Reading
Slough
Southampton
Surrey
West Berkshire West Sussex
Windsor and Maidenhead
Wokingham
South West England
Bath and North East Somerset
Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
Bristol
Devon
Dorset
Gloucestershire
North Somerset
Somerset
South Gloucestershire
Swindon
Wiltshire
Wales
Blaenau Gwent
Bridgend
Caerphilly
Cardiff
Merthyr Tydfil
Monmouthshire
Neath Port Talbot
Newport Powys
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Torfaen
Vale of Glamorgan
West Midlands
Herefordshire
Shropshire
Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent
Telford and Wrekin
Warwickshire
West Midlands Conurbation
Worcestershire