Heatwave live: Amber heat health alert in place for much of England - with Wimbledon set for scorching start
The UK Health Security Agency has put out its second amber heat health alert in two weeks, with highs of 34C forecast today. It could be hotter than Mexico, Barbados and Jamaica. Follow the latest advice and updates below.
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The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
Europe heatwave: Spain set for hottest June on record as 50,000 flee Turkey wildfires
Firefighters battled wildfires in Turkey, forcing the evacuation of more than 50,000 residents, as an early summer heatwave hit Europe and put spain on course for its hottest June on record. Health alerts were issued in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Germany as well as in England and Wales. Even the Netherlands, used to a milder climate, issued a warning for high temperatures in the coming days, coupled with high humidity. "Large parts of Western Europe are experiencing extreme heat and heatwave conditions that are normally observed in July or August, rather than June," said Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Temperatures were in some locations 5-10 degrees Celsius warmer than they otherwise should have been at this time of the year, she said. New highs are expected on Wednesday before rain is forecast to bring respite to some areas later this week. 'Extreme heat is no longer a rare event — it has become the new normal,' tweeted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. 'The planet is getting hotter & more dangerous — no country is immune.' In Portugal — his home country — one reading on Sunday turned up a suspected record-high June temperature of 46.6 C (115.9F) in Mora, about 60 miles east of Lisbon. In Turkey, wildfires raged for a second day near Izmir, fanned by strong winds. More than 50,000 people have been evacuated from five regions, including more than 42,000 in Izmir, Turkey's AFAD emergency management authority said. In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires burned in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius, burning 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey. Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country's 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert until midweek. Spain is on course for its hottest June on record, the national meteorological service AEMET said. "Over the next few days, at least until Thursday, intense heat will continue in much of Spain," said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for the weather agency. In Seville, where global leaders gathered for a United Nations conference, temperatures hit 42 C. 'It's awful," municipal worker Bernabe Rufo said as he cleaned a fountain. "We need to be looking for shade constantly.' In Italy, the Health Ministry issued heatwave red alerts for 16 cities, including Rome and Milan. Lombardy is planning to ban open-air work in the hottest part of the day in response to a request from trade unions. In Germany too, heat warnings were in place across large parts of western and southwestern regions where temperatures climbed to up to 34 C. Authorities appealed to consumers to limit their use of water. The heatwave has lowered water levels on the Rhine River, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners, commodity traders said. German and French baseload power prices surged as the heatwave led to increased demand for air conditioning. Globally, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually, surpassing the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and poses growing risks to infrastructure, the economy and healthcare systems, Swiss Re said earlier this month.
The Independent
35 minutes ago
- The Independent
Alcaraz steps in to help fainting fan on scorching Centre Court
Carlos Alcaraz rushed to help a spectator who collapsed during his opening match at Wimbledon, pausing play on Centre Court as temperatures soared. The defending champion handed over a bottle of water and watched as medics and members of the crowd came to the woman's aid during a break in his match against Fabio Fognini. Spectator Cara McKelvey, 30, a council worker from Lancashire, was sitting directly behind the woman. She told PA news agency: 'She was in her 70s, just with one of her mates, and had been watching the whole match. 'It was so hot when the sun was beating down. She just fainted. 'The whole team were really good, they all came round. 'A spectator even ran over and said, 'I'm a doctor,' and started helping out. 'They treated her and moved her onto a chair. ' Moments later, Alcaraz jogged across the court and handed over a cold bottle of water from his bag as medics rushed to assist. Ms McCelvey added: 'Bless him, it was so sweet. 'Alcaraz passed over his bottle – I was like, oh my God, that's Carlos Alcaraz's bottle.' A video seen by PA news agency shows Wimbledon staff sheltering the woman with umbrellas while another fan waves a handheld fan over her face. Play was suspended for several minutes before the woman was helped away for further treatment. Umpire James Keothavong told the crowd: 'Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately there has been an incident with a spectator. 'Health and safety is our priority. We will be pausing the match.' It comes as temperatures soared to 32.3C at Wimbledon on Monday – the hottest opening day on record.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Dog owners given heatwave warning after French Bulldog dies in car
Experts have issued a warning to dog owners travelling with their pet after a French Bulldog died from heatstroke while trapped in a hot car. The young French Bulldog was rushed to a Blue Cross animal hospital in central London after the owner got stuck in traffic and their pet collapsed in the car with heatstroke. Despite the vet's best efforts, the dog was unable to be saved. Warnings over extreme heat have been extended across much of England as temperatures are set to climb to 34C in one of the hottest June days on record. The Met Office said temperatures would climb above 30C widely across England, including places such as Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol and Cambridge, with highs of 34C in London and south-east England. Aysha Kent, a vet at the Blue Cross, has urged owners to avoid travelling with pets during the upcoming heatwave, warning of the potentially fatal consequences. 'With temperatures set to soar in the coming days, we'd really urge anyone to reconsider travelling with their pets during the hot weather – especially long distances,' she said. Speaking on the French Bulldog which died, Ms Kent said: 'This is such a terribly distressing and sad case, and our thoughts are with the owner who did what they could to save the pet by rushing them into our care, but sadly it was too late.' She emphasised that cars are often far hotter than people realise, even when moving. 'While we often think our cars are cool when we're driving, this is often due to the active cooling of fans, and the actual vehicle temperature is much higher than we know. Putting the windows down isn't enough to stop the heat rising.' She added: 'Many pet owners will be aware of the risk of leaving dogs in parked cars but we're sharing this incredibly sad story to make people aware of the dangers of travelling with your pet during the hot weather.' Flat-faced dogs like pugs and French bulldogs, as well as overweight, very young, elderly or thick-coated pets, are particularly vulnerable in extreme temperatures, the charity warned. They are advising owners to skip normal walks if the heat is too much, and instead opt for short toilet breaks nearby. To help pets stay cool, she suggested offering chilled or frozen treats and providing a paddling pool for dogs if possible. 'We'd recommend trying to leave your pet in a room with shade (for example, with the curtains closed) and opening windows (where this is safe) if the air is cooler outside or there is a breeze.' Initial signs that a dog may be struggling with the heat include panting, particularly if their tongue appears curled, slowing down or refusing to walk, and breathing rapidly or heavily. As their condition worsens, they might begin drooling or lying down, with more severe symptoms such as vomiting, collapsing, or seizures potentially following. Ms Kent added: 'If your dog shows any signs of heatstroke, start cooling them by moving them out of the heat and pouring cold water over them (not using wet towels as these warm up the skin too quickly) and take them to the nearest vet. This may not be your usual vet but will be quicker in getting your pet treated.'
