Britain is bracing for the third heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to reach 34°C on Thursday, July 9, according to MetDesk forecasts. At least 10 counties and regions, including the West Midlands, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Greater London, and Essex, are predicted to hit 30°C or above by 6pm.
Health Alerts and Tropical Nights
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat-health alerts for the Midlands, London, and eastern and southern England. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway warned: "As well as very high daytime temperatures, there will be consecutive nights where temperatures do not drop below 20°C, which is called a Tropical Night. This will make it very hard for people to recover from the daytime heat, exacerbating the heat stress impacts."
Simple Kitchen Item Trick
With warm and muggy conditions expected to persist into next week, many households are struggling to keep cool at night. Most UK homes are built to retain heat, and without air conditioning, lowering the temperature can be challenging. However, a simple and budget-friendly solution involves placing a bowl filled with cold water on your windowsill or worktop near an open window.
Energy experts explain that cold water absorbs heat from the surrounding air and converts it into vapour, reducing the overall temperature. When placed near an open window, the incoming breeze circulates cooler air throughout the room. LEAP Energy Advice stated: "Although it may seem peculiar, placing bowls of water around the house can aid in cooling the hot air. This simple technique can be surprisingly effective."
DIY Air Conditioner
To speed up the cooling process, fill the bowls with ice cubes instead of cold water and position one in front of a fan. LEAP added: "If you need to cool down quickly, try placing a bowl of ice and cold water in front of your fan's blades. This will cause the air blowing from the fan to pass over the icy water, creating a refreshing sensation on your skin. It's like having a homemade, DIY air-conditioner!"
Using a fan is not strictly necessary, as the water alone can lower the temperature, but better results are achieved with the cooling breeze. Running a fan costs a fraction of an air conditioning unit, which can be up to 40 times more expensive.
Endorsed by British Gas
Major energy supplier British Gas has endorsed the trick as an affordable method to keep homes comfortable during hot weather. British Gas said: "While fans aren't the most expensive appliance to run, using one is still likely to impact your fuel bills - but there are some things you can do to get the most out of the energy you're paying for. To really cool down a room with a fan, place a deep dish of ice in the front of it to whip up the water mist and chill the breeze. You can also point a box fan out of an open window in the evenings - this pushes the hot air out instead of just blowing it around the room."
