Health warning issued as Met Office forecasts hottest day of the year next week
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The UK is in the midst of an early record-breaking heatwave, which forecasters have called an ‘exceptional heat’.
The UK saw the hottest day of the year so far on Saturday when the village of Frittenden, in Kent, hit 30.5°C.
It was the first time this year that the UK had passed 30°C – the last time that happened in May was in 2012.
But temperatures are expected to rise even further today, with highs of 31C predicted in the South East, and even further on Monday, when potential peaks of between 33°C and 34°C are possible.
Records could be broken for the hottest May day in the UK and England, currently 32.8°C; the hottest May day in Wales, currently 30.6°C, as well as the UK and England’s hottest bank holiday.
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Saturday also saw holidaymakers trying to get to Europe via the Port of Dover, where they faced hours-long queues.
In a bid to ease the waits, the French authorities suspended extra EU border checks under the new entry and exit system.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said there will be ‘plentiful amounts of sunshine for the vast majority’ of people on Sunday, but it looks set to be a damp day in parts of the North West and Scotland.
‘That extra sunshine will once again allow those temperatures to climb even further, and so now we’re expecting to see around 33°C in the far south-east of London, but quite broadly a potential for 30°C into parts of northern England, areas of Wales and right throughout the Midlands as well.
‘If we hit that 33°C, maybe even locally close towards 34°C, that would bring us our hottest bank holiday day on record, as well as our hottest day in May on record, so it really is quite exceptional heat that is building for the time of year.’
How to stay cool in the heatwave
If you can enjoy the weekend by a shaded lake, congratulations.
However, this might not be possible if you’re stuck in London or have to hit the road or travel by train.
Reaching for a sip of water in any weather is not a bad idea, but doctors have recommended one surprising everyday drink in a heatwave.
On the Tube, your best hope is an Underground line with air conditioning, but bringing water along is a top tip for hot-weather London travel.
Metro has this handy guide for heatwave survival 101 shopping essentials, from best handheld fans to cooling pillows.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber heat health alerts on Friday morning for the East Midlands, West Midlands, the East of England, London and the South East.
The alerts will remain in place until 5pm on Wednesday and replace less severe yellow alerts, which were previously issued.
The alerts mean there is likely to be ‘a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions’ and increased demand on all health and social care services, according to the UKHSA website.
Yellow alerts have been issued for the North East and North West, Yorkshire and Humber, and the South West.
The less severe alert means significant impacts on health and social care services are possible.
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المصدر: Metro UK