The chief operating officer of the London Ambulance Service (LAS) has urged the public to drink responsibly and avoid outdoor exercise as a historic heatwave continues to grip the United Kingdom, shattering June temperature records.
Record-Breaking Temperatures
The Met Office reported that temperatures reached 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday afternoon, provisionally marking the hottest June day on record in the UK. The extreme heat follows a second consecutive day of sweltering conditions, with rare red weather warnings extending into Friday. Forecasts predict highs of 36C in London and 35C in Manchester, while Belfast and Cardiff could see 26C.
Wales also experienced its hottest June day on Thursday, with 35.9C recorded in Cardiff, and Northern Ireland matched its previous June record of 30.8C in Castlederg.
Ambulance Service Under Pressure
LAS responded to its highest number of life-threatening emergencies ever on Wednesday, according to chief operating officer Craig Harman. He stated, “We expect demand to grow day on day over the next couple of days.” Compared to a typical Wednesday in June, LAS saw a 50% increase in life-threatening emergency calls and a 30% rise in cardiac arrests.
As football fans prepare for England’s World Cup match on Saturday, Harman advised drinking “plenty of water” between alcoholic beverages. He told the Press Association, “I’m saying to people I need you to drink water even when you’re not thirsty, staying out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day, and particularly not exercising outside and putting your body under additional heat and strain.” He emphasised that not only the elderly or those with underlying conditions are at risk.
Critical Incidents and Service Disruptions
Several hospitals have declared critical incidents due to the heatwave. University Hospital Southampton cancelled planned operations and outpatient appointments, while Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust declared critical incidents on Wednesday.
Schools and nurseries have closed, and a hosepipe ban was implemented in Kent due to surging demand. Transport services face disruptions, with one rail operator advising against beach trips because of the extreme heat.
Wildfires and Water Safety
In Derbyshire, firefighters battled a 500-square-metre wildfire on Tintwistle Moor on Thursday evening, with video showing billowing smoke and flames consuming trees. A 50-year-old man from Cilfrew, Neath Port Talbot, Wales, died after entering the water at Aberavon beach on Wednesday, police reported.
Heat Plan and Climate Context
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan launched the city’s first heat plan, calling for air conditioning to be rolled out to schools, offices, and hospitals as London adapts to more intense heatwaves. The current heatwave is driven by a “heat dome” – an area of high pressure trapping heat over western Europe.
Human-driven climate change, primarily from burning fossil fuels, is making extreme heatwaves more frequent and intense, according to scientific consensus.
Weather Warnings and Electricity Grid
The Met Office extended its red warning until 9pm on Friday for London and parts of east and southeast England, including Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, and Kent – the first time red heat warnings have been issued for three consecutive days. An amber warning covers a wider area on Friday, including the East Midlands, East of England, northwest England, southwest England, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humber.
Yellow thunderstorm warnings are in place for southwest England on Thursday night and for parts of Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on Friday. Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth noted lightning is likely in the southwest Thursday night, with rain in northern areas Friday morning. Eastern England is expected to see the highest temperatures on Friday, but conditions will “finally cool down this weekend.”
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) issued an electricity margin notice for Friday evening, calling for additional generation capacity. A NESO spokesperson said, “Our forecasts are showing tight margins on the electricity system for tomorrow evening. An Electricity Margin Notice has been issued to the market. This is a routine tool, and means we are asking market participants to make any additional generation capacity they may have available. The EMN does not mean electricity supply is at risk.”
