The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday, covering 71 areas across the UK. The forecaster has warned that the sweltering conditions could cause heat-sensitive systems and equipment to break down, potentially leading to power cuts and the loss of other services to homes and businesses. The warnings come into force at 1am on Monday, June 22, and will remain in place until 11.59pm on Tuesday, June 23.
Widespread impacts expected
The Met Office stated that a developing hot spell through Monday and Tuesday will likely lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure. Forecasters have also increased their temperature forecast, with highs of 35°C expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. There is growing confidence that the UK's June temperature record of 35.6°C, set in Southampton in 1976, could be broken.
Areas affected
The warnings cover large parts of England and Wales. In the East Midlands, affected areas include Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland. The East of England region includes Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, and Thurrock.
London and South East England are covered, including Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, Reading, Slough, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.
In South West England, the warnings apply to Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, and Wiltshire. Wales is also affected, with areas including Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, and Vale of Glamorgan. The West Midlands region includes Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, and Worcestershire.
Advice during a power cut
The Met Office has issued advice for those who may experience a power cut. If electricity is crucial for any medical equipment, residents are advised to contact their Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to be placed on the Priority Register for assistance. People should ensure they have multiple torches with extra batteries, keep mobile phones charged, and keep fridges and freezers closed with a blanket over them to maintain cold temperatures. Important documents should be kept safe and handy, and residents are urged to look out for elderly neighbours to ensure they are prepared. Appliances such as irons, ovens, electric fires, and fryers should be switched off to avoid hazards when power is restored. For those using digital landlines without a mobile phone or with poor mobile signal, the Met Office recommends speaking to communications providers about additional support.
