England Upgrades Heat-Health Warnings as Temperatures Head Towards 36C

Health authorities have upgraded heat-health warnings across much of England as another period of intense summer heat develops, with temperatures forecast to climb sharply through the middle of the week.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat-health alerts for the East Midlands, East of England, London, North West, South East, South West and West Midlands. A yellow alert applies to the North East. The alerts take effect at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 August and remain in place until 9 p.m. on Friday, 14 August.

Amber status means health authorities expect significant impacts to become possible across health and social-care services, particularly for older people and those with underlying medical conditions. Individual regional alerts are currently rated at medium impact and medium likelihood.

The Met Office says much of southern and central England is expected to experience heatwave conditions during the week, with temperatures potentially reaching around 36C in some locations on Thursday. Its national forecast describes conditions as becoming increasingly hot across the south while remaining very warm farther north.

Monday is expected to remain dry for most of the country, with temperatures increasing further from Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday are forecast to bring the peak of the heat across many central and southern areas before conditions begin to change towards the end of the week.

The warnings come during an already exceptional British summer. England recorded a provisional June temperature of 37.7C at Lingwood in Norfolk on 26 June, breaking the previous national June record. The Met Office has also documented unusually warm nights during this summer's earlier heat episodes.

High overnight temperatures can increase health risks because the body has less opportunity to recover from daytime heat.

People most vulnerable during prolonged hot weather include older adults, very young children, people with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions and those living in buildings that overheat easily. The warnings are therefore primarily public-health alerts rather than simply forecasts of pleasant summer weather.

For hospitals, care providers and local authorities, the coming days will test preparedness for another sustained period of high temperatures.

Source attribution: UK Health Security Agency; Met Office.