The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for extreme heat on Wednesday, covering 90 areas across the country, and has cautioned that the hot weather could lead to power cuts. The forecaster warned that the sweltering conditions might cause heat-sensitive systems and equipment to fail, resulting in power cuts and loss of other services to homes and businesses.
Extreme Heat Alert Details
An alert for extreme heat is in place for London and South East England from 12am on Wednesday until 11.59pm on Thursday. Temperatures are widely expected to exceed 30C, with the hottest areas potentially peaking at a sweltering 38C. Overnight temperatures are also expected to remain above 20C, providing little relief.
Advice for Power Cuts
In the event of a power cut, the Met Office offers the following advice: If electricity is crucial for any medical equipment you have, contact your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) at any time to be added to their Priority Register for assistance during a power outage. Ensure you have multiple torches with extra batteries, keep your mobile phone charged for emergency calls, and keep fridges and freezers closed with a blanket over them to maintain cold temperatures. Important documents should be kept safe and handy. Check on elderly neighbours and ensure they are prepared for a possible power cut. Switch off appliances such as irons, ovens, electric fires, and fryers, as they could pose a hazard if power returns unexpectedly. For people using a digital landline without a mobile phone or in an area with poor mobile signal, speak to your communications provider about additional support.
Areas Affected by Heat Warnings
The following areas are under heat warnings: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock, Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, Slough, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Torbay, Wiltshire, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, Wrexham, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire.
