Brits in 51 counties across the UK have been warned to brace for dangerously high temperatures in the coming days as the mercury is set to soar over the weekend and into next week
The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for extreme heat over a swathe of the UK covering millions of Brits.
The alerts, which are in force on Monday and Tuesday, warn of widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.
The spike in temperatures is likely to cause adverse health effects for people vulnerable to extreme heat, the Met Office warned. Among the wider population there it was likely people will suffer with sunburn or heat exhaustion, dehydration, nausea and fatigue and other heat related illnesses, the forecaster said.
“Some changes in working practices and daily routines are likely to be required,” the warning continued, adding that there may be an increased change of travel disruption with potential for welfare issues for those stuck on roads, trains and planes in the heat. There will also be an increased likelihood of power outages and disruption to other services as equipment starts to fail in the heat.
The warning covers parts of East of England, London and South East England, South West England, Wales. All local areas affected are listed below.
A Met Office forecast said: “Following very warm weather on Sunday, very high temperatures are expected on Monday and Tuesday and will likely bring widespread impacts to people and infrastructure.
“In addition to high daytime maxima, temperatures overnight will remain very warm, especially in larger urban areas, and it will also feel humid. Temperatures are likely to reach the mid-30s Celsius in places on Monday and Tuesday.
“Some places, particularly in urban areas, may see temperatures remain above 20 Celsius overnight. The very high temperatures may continue across a smaller area into the middle of the week, but there remains some uncertainty regarding the extent of this.”
Brits have been warned to keep out of the sun and avoid any exercise between 11am-3pm and keep their curtains closed to avoid overheating indoors. “If you are going out take water with you, stay in the shade, wear sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat,” the Met Office advised.
During the previous record-breaking heatwave , from May 24 to 31, the UK saw a horrifying death toll of 19 children and adults killed in water related incidents during one week. In response the Mirror launched our ‘Save Lives for Sam’ campaign to stop the “catastrophic” deaths of 33 children who drown in England every year – “the equivalent of a classroom of children lost”.
Bereaved families, Olympic legends and safety organisations have joined together to call on the Government to take five key steps to save young lives across the country.
People heading to the coast in the coming days should be mindful that sea-surface temperatures are not as high as they would be in mid-summer, the Met Office warned. Samantha Hughes is the National Water Safety Partner at the RNLI. She said: “With warmer weather approaching, it’s important to remember that the water is still cold. Entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold water shock, causing a sudden increase in breathing and heart rate, which may trigger panic.
“If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, relax and control your breathing. You may need to gently use your hands to help you stay afloat, and it’s ok if your legs sink—everyone floats differently.
“Where possible, always choose a lifeguarded beach, and swim between the red and yellow flags. In a coastal emergency remember to call 999 for the coastguard.”
Places covered by the amber alerts
- Bedford
- Cambridgeshire
- Central Bedfordshire
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Luton
- Norfolk
- Southend-on-Sea
- Suffolk
- Thurrock
- 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
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
- Bristol
- Devon
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Newport
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
This is a Breaking News story. You’ll be more likely to see our stories when any big news breaks in future by simply by clicking this link . You can also join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News , TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage .
