The Met Office has issued a rare Red Extreme Heat Warning as sweltering temperatures strike the UK, urging Britons to put socks in the freezer to help them sleep. The warning, which covers parts of England and Wales from Wednesday to Thursday, forecasts temperatures exceeding 37°C in the shade, potentially rising to 38-40°C in some areas. This extreme heat, accompanied by high humidity and very warm nights, is expected to cause significant disruption to daily life and health.
Sleep Tips from Experts
Sleep experts at Emma Sleep, in collaboration with Dr. Allie Hare, a sleep consultant and Tatler Top Doctor for Sleep, have shared tips for staying cool. Dr. Hare explains: “Overheating during sleep can significantly reduce sleep quality and duration. In particular, being too hot at night can reduce slow wave (deep) sleep, the stage of sleep that helps us awaken feeling rested.” One tip is to “try putting a pair of lightly damp socks in the freezer around 10 minutes before you go to bed, and put them on before you sleep.” The experts note that “your feet are heat regulators, and so when you put the socks on, they help your body feel cooler while you are trying to get to sleep.”
Amber and Red Warnings in Place
The Met Office has issued Amber Extreme Heat Warnings from Monday to Thursday, with temperatures widely exceeding 35°C. A rare Red warning applies from 9am Wednesday to 9pm Thursday for local authorities across the East Midlands, East of England, London & South East England, South West England, Wales, and the West Midlands. The Red warning warns of “population-wide adverse health effects experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life.” The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued Yellow and Amber Heat Health Alerts.
Impact on Health and Infrastructure
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “The forecast heatwave is developing into an impactful severe weather event, with record-breaking June temperatures and very high humidity. The combination of heat and humidity will be oppressive and bring impacts across society from public health and infrastructure, to power and water supplies. 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.”
Additional Advice
Other tips from experts include switching to a nutritious diet, avoiding synthetic bedding, staying hydrated, and closing curtains during the day. The Met Office warns of potential heat-related issues for transport, energy, and water supply, as well as increased water safety incidents as more people visit coastal areas, lakes, or rivers.
