Britain is preparing for its fourth heatwave of the year, with temperatures expected to reach up to 35°C by Wednesday, prompting heat health alerts and an appeal from fire chiefs to exercise caution in dry parks and rural areas.
According to provisional Met Office data, July was 3°C above the UK average, and with over a month of summer remaining, the country has already experienced more days above 30°C than ever before.
Record low rainfall
Southern England has received only 1% of its average July rainfall, while England as a whole has had 5% and the UK 20%, the Met Office reported. Forecasters expect this heatwave to be brief, with temperatures rising from Tuesday, reaching 30°C as a high-pressure system settles over the east and southeast, peaking on Wednesday.
Temperatures are set to gradually cool from Thursday, except in the southeast where another hot day could maintain official heatwave conditions, the Met Office said.
Health warnings issued
The UK Health Security Agency issued amber heat health alerts for the east and southeast of England, starting Wednesday at 9am and ending Thursday. Yellow alerts remain in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands, and the southwest for the same period. Ambulance and emergency medical teams anticipate a rise in patients suffering from dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and exacerbated heart and respiratory conditions.
“Recent episodes of extreme heat have shown how quickly patients can become seriously unwell,” said Helen Vine, assistant director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE). “With amber heat health alerts in place, we would urge people to take the risks seriously by staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day, limiting alcohol consumption and seeking advice from NHS 111 for non-emergency health concerns.”
Wildfire risks
After wildfires across Europe displaced hundreds of thousands in France and Spain, UK fire chiefs are preparing for an increased risk of wildfires. Residents of Nethy Bridge in Scotland were evacuated at the weekend after a large fire in the Cairngorms National Park. During the third heatwave in mid-July, firefighters tackled 19 significant wildfires simultaneously in England and Wales.
A spokesperson for the National Fire Chiefs Council urged the public to avoid disposable barbecues in parks and countryside and to handle cigarette butts carefully. “It only takes one spark to start a wildfire, and what may appear to be a small fire can quickly escalate, threatening communities, wildlife, natural habitats and the firefighters tackling the incident.”
Climate context
Human-caused climate breakdown is intensifying heatwaves globally. The sustained temperature rise may lead to redefined heatwave criteria. Senior Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna noted that thresholds for some counties were increased by a degree four or five years ago. “Going forward they’ll need to be adjusted to take into account … current climate, otherwise we’re going to more frequently go into heatwaves. It’s a moveable thing, really, as we go through a warming world.”
