The Met Office has issued a rare red warning for extreme heat covering 50 areas of the UK, urging households to fill hot water bottles with cold water to cope with scorching temperatures expected from Wednesday. The warning, in effect from 9am on Wednesday until 9pm on Thursday, applies to parts of central and southern England and Wales, where temperatures could reach 38°C to 40°C in the shade.
Exceptional Heat and Humidity Forecast
The exceptionally hot weather is forecast to last two to three days, with maximum temperatures exceeding 37°C and potentially rising to 40°C in some locations. The Met Office warned that high humidity will accompany the heat, making conditions feel more oppressive and leading to 'tropical nights' where temperatures remain above 20°C, particularly in urban areas.
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.”
How Hot Water Bottles Help Cool Down
High humidity can make sleep uncomfortable, but a hot water bottle filled with cold water offers a simple solution. Instead of running fans for hours, fill a hot water bottle with ice-cold water and place it in bed before sleeping to cool sheets and pillows. It can also be held against the skin, wrapped in a cover or tea towel to prevent direct contact.
For extra chill, fill the bottle halfway with cold water and freeze for up to 20 minutes. However, avoid leaving it in the freezer too long, as it can damage the rubber and cause bursting when later filled with hot water. Heat-Treats advises: “It’s simple; just fill your bottle with iced water, ice cubes or crushed ice. The bottle acts in the same way in reverse; instead of releasing warm heat it emits refreshing cold.”
Expert Backing and Additional Tips
The Royal Meteorological Society supports this tip, suggesting putting pillowcases, pyjamas, or a cold-water hot water bottle in the freezer for 20 minutes before bed. In its guidance, it states: “This simple trick offers an instant cooling hit that can help you get to sleep faster - especially during those muggy tropical nights where temperatures don't drop below 20C.”
50 Areas Under Red Warning
The Met Office red warning for extreme heat covers the following areas:
East Midlands: Northamptonshire
East of England: Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Thurrock
London & South East England: Bracknell Forest, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, Slough, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham
South West England: Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire
Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan
West Midlands: Herefordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire
