The Met Office has issued a serious amber weather warning for extreme heat starting on Monday, covering 51 areas across the United Kingdom. The warning, which lasts for 47 hours, brings the risk of power cuts and disruption to essential services.
Warning Details
The amber warning for extreme heat will be in effect from 1am on Monday until 11.59pm on Tuesday. It primarily affects southern England and Wales, where temperatures could reach the mid-30s Celsius and remain above 20 degrees overnight, especially in urban areas.
The Met Office warned that the hot weather could cause heat-sensitive systems and equipment to fail, leading to power cuts and the loss of other services to homes and businesses. They advised residents to prepare for potential outages by gathering torches, batteries, mobile phone power packs, and other essential items.
Affected Areas
The full list of areas covered by the amber heat warning includes:
- Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock
- 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, Wokingham
- Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire
- Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan
Safety Advice
The Met Office also provided safety advice for enjoying the water during the hot weather: enter the water gradually to avoid cold-water shock, go to a lifeguarded beach or supervised swimming area, and if in difficulty, float on your back.
Residents are urged to stay informed and take precautions to stay safe during the extreme heat and potential power disruptions.
