The Met Office has extended its rare red extreme heat warning for parts of Wales as forecasters warn temperatures could approach 40C during what has been described as a "severe weather event."
Extended Red Warning Details
The highest-level weather alert, originally due to expire at 9pm on Thursday, will now remain in force until 11pm. It covers Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan.
The Met Office said: "During the heatwave expected to affect a large part of England and Wales this week, the highlighted area now looks increasingly likely to see a two to three day period where maximum temperatures in the shade exceed 37 Celsius, perhaps rising to 38 to 40 Celsius in some places."
High Humidity and Health Impacts
Forecasters warned the heat will be accompanied by high humidity and unusually warm nights, making it harder for people to recover from the extreme daytime temperatures. "The heat will be accompanied by high humidity, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts, with very warm and humid night times also reducing the ability for people to recover overnight," the Met Office added.
A red weather warning is the highest level of alert issued by the Met Office and is reserved for weather conditions that pose a danger to life and have the potential to cause widespread disruption.
Expanded Amber Warning
The amber weather warning for extreme heat running alongside the red warning has also been expanded to cover a wider area of Wales, including parts of north, west and south Wales. The amber warning runs from midnight on Wednesday to 11.59pm on Thursday. The warning now covers Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, the Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, the Vale of Glamorgan and Wrexham.
The Met Office said the warning area had been expanded, particularly across south Wales, as hot and humid conditions continue with exceptionally warm temperatures expected both during the day and overnight.
Impacts and School Closures
The Met Office has warned that the heatwave is likely to lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure. Population-wide adverse health effects are expected, not limited to vulnerable groups, with a risk of serious illness and danger to life. More than 500 schools in Wales are closed or partially closed on Wednesday and Thursday as a result of the high temperatures. Closures are impacting schools across mid and south Wales - including all schools in Newport and Blaenau Gwent, and many in Caerphilly and Bridgend.
Forecasters say significant disruption to daily life is also possible, including delays and cancellations on transport networks, increased pressure on essential services and a heightened risk of water safety incidents as more people head to beaches, rivers and lakes to cool down.
Public Health Advice
Residents are being urged to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, keep out of direct sunlight where possible and check on elderly relatives, neighbours and others who may be particularly vulnerable to the heat.
While the red warning affecting parts of Wales is due to end at 11pm on Thursday, the Met Office has also issued an amber extreme heat warning covering large areas of England from midnight until 11pm on Friday. The alert covers parts of the Midlands, London, the South East, the South West, North West England, Yorkshire and the Humber, where temperatures are expected to remain above 30C, with some areas potentially reaching 38C.
