Heat health alerts come into force as fifth heatwave set to hit UK

Heat health alerts have been activated in the UK as the fifth heatwave of the year approaches, with temperatures set to soar to 36°C in certain regions, according to PA Media/dpa. These yellow alerts, which come into force on Saturday morning and remain in effect until Tuesday night, warn that the extreme heat may impact public health and strain healthcare services.

The Met Office predicts a significant rise in temperatures throughout the weekend, with East Anglia and southeast England expected to experience highs of 36°C by Thursday. The record-breaking heatwaves observed in May and June, resulting in over 2,800 excess deaths, and additional heatwaves in July, exacerbating drought and wildfires, underscore the magnitude of this ongoing heatwave.

The highest temperature recorded in 2023 was 38°C, observed at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 28. This year has already seen 33 days with temperatures surpassing 30°C, potentially breaking the record set in 1995, which recorded 34 such days. The forecast anticipates a north-south weather split, with Scotland and Northern Ireland bracing for heavy rain, while England and Wales will remain mostly dry, sunny, and warm.

Temperatures are forecasted to reach 30 degrees on Saturday, with the southern and southeastern parts of England witnessing lows in the high 20s on Sunday. By Tuesday, parts of England and Wales may witness temperatures climbing into the low 30s, peaking at 32°C to 34°C on Wednesday, with Thursday expected to see the highest temperatures of the week.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for 11 regions, including the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.