Amber heat health alert issued for five regions in the UK with temperatures set to pass 30C this weekend

The Sun

2 days ago

A SECOND amber heat health alert has been issued for June, with temperatures again set to pass 30C over the weekend.
The weather-related health warning, which covers five regions of the UK - London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England - starts at midday on Friday and will last until 6pm on Tuesday.
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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same time period, and has warned of significant impacts across health and social care services.
Temperatures will steadily rise on Thursday and Friday this week, with highs potentially reaching 28C in the south and east by Friday.
An amber alert was previously issued for all regions in England on June 19, the first time it had been used since September 2023.
On the same day the UK recorded its warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 32.2C in Kew, west London, before heatwaves were declared across England and Wales.
An official heatwave is declared when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.
Thunderstorms may be possible over the weekend, with warm, humid air set to linger in the south and east on Thursday and maximum temperatures of 27C in eastern England, the Met Office said.
But temperatures are unlikely to feel 'quite as muggy', meteorologist Honor Criswick said.
'For the first part of the day, it is set to be unsettled (with) outbreaks of quite heavy rain at times, particularly across Scotland,' he said.
'But it's fairly fast moving, so by the time we reach the afternoon, particularly from the west, we're going to see the return of those bright and sunny spells.
'And behind this area of rain, a much fresher feel to the air as well.'
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According to the Met Office, rain could be heavy in the west, while the east of England could remain dry, escaping with some sunny intervals.
Parts of the south and east may also remain very warm, with highs potentially reaching 28C as the muggy air returns.
Mr Criswick added: 'For the rest of the week, we do have a ridge of high pressure building to the south, so once again pushing in a return of that warmer air.
'So, that fresher feeling day as we head into Thursday, it's going to be quite a brief interlude.
'And low pressure is never too far behind, so still some rain on the cards to finish off the week and as we head into the weekend.'
What does a amber heat health alert mean?
This alert means the forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including:
a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups
a likely increase in demand for health services
temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics may rise above the levels recommended for assessing health risks
the heat may affect our staff's ability to deliver services
challenges keeping indoor temperatures from overheating, leading to more risk to vulnerable people, particularly those living independently
issues managing medicines
staffing issues due to external factors (such as travel delays)
increased demand for power exceeding capacity
other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy)
Hot weather can lead to several health complications, primarily due to the body's difficulty in regulating its temperature.
These include dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, heat rash, and sunburn.
Additionally, hot weather can exacerbate existing health conditions, particularly those related to the heart and lungs, and can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A yellow heat health alert is below an amber alert.
Yellow alerts may be issued during periods of heat that would be unlikely to impact most people but could impact those who are particularly vulnerable.