Londoners are preparing for a week of tropical temperatures as the city experiences another heatwave, with nighttime temperatures reaching up to 28°C at 10pm. The heat is expected to rise to 32°C on Monday, with overnight lows not falling below 20°C, a condition known as a tropical night.
Extended Period of High Nighttime Temperatures
According to the Met Office, a tropical night is defined as when temperatures do not drop below 20°C. For the next six days, the nighttime temperature will remain above this threshold, except possibly on Wednesday and Thursday when it may dip to 19°C. If this slight drop does not occur, London could experience tropical nights for a full week, surpassing the previous record of three consecutive days in July 2022.
Health Risks and Advice
Dr. Yimmy Chow, London regional deputy director for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned that sustained high nighttime temperatures prevent the body from cooling down and recovering, increasing mortality risk, especially for those over 65 or with pre-existing health conditions. He emphasized the importance of staying hydrated, keeping homes cool by closing blinds and curtains during the day, and checking on vulnerable neighbors.
The Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat alert for London, with daytime temperatures potentially reaching 35°C next week. It highlighted that tropical nights can disrupt sleep and increase cardiovascular stress.
Tips for Coping with Tropical Nights
The UKHSA recommends several measures to stay cool during heatwaves, including closing blinds and curtains, moving to cooler parts of the house, opening windows when the outside air is cooler, using fans safely, and turning off unnecessary electrical equipment. Sleep experts also suggest cooling feet before bed, sleeping on one's side, and avoiding cold showers, as they can increase body temperature.
Additional advice includes wearing cool pajamas, exercising earlier in the day, and using cold flannels or frozen water bottles to cool down while sleeping.
