The Met Office has urged millions of households in England to look out for three early signs of heatstroke, with temperatures forecast to soar to as high as 32C on Friday. According to the forecaster, parts of the UK will experience very warm weather on Friday, suggesting the possibility of heatwave-like conditions over the weekend.
Heat-Health Alert Issued
A yellow Heat-Health Alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), indicating that temperatures could lead to impacts on the health and wellbeing of some people. This alert covers the East Midlands, East of England, London, and the southeast of England from Wednesday June 17 and remains in place until Monday.
Three Early Signs of Heatstroke
According to the Met Office, if someone is showing heavy panting, restlessness, and lack of coordination, these could be early signs of heatstroke. The Met Office explained: Hot weather places a strain on the heart and lungs. For that reason, the majority of serious illness and deaths caused by heat are respiratory and cardiovascular.
Older people, those with pre-existing health conditions, and young children are particularly at risk. Overexposure to the sun is equally dangerous, with effects ranging from mild sunburn to skin cancer. It doesn't have to be hot for the UV index to be high.
NHS Advice on Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke
The NHS explains that heat exhaustion does not usually need emergency medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes. If it turns into heatstroke, it needs to be treated as an emergency.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Comment
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Gregory Wolverson said: This week's weather reflects a contrast we often see in summer, with more unsettled conditions passing to the northwest of the UK while heat builds in the south and east. As we move towards the weekend, we'll see conditions become more widely settled and temperatures rise all round. Many parts of southern and eastern England are likely to see temperatures high enough to meet heatwave thresholds.
It's important to note that while temperatures may be high, we might not all see the wall-to-wall sunshine and blue skies we experienced back in May because there is more cloud around. There is also a chance of thunderstorms developing in places, particularly later each day, which could bring heavy showers and localised impacts.
