New Thunderstorm Warning Issued for North East
As the heatwave continues, the North East is under additional weather alerts throughout today. A thunderstorm warning that was in place expired at 10am, but a new warning has been issued from 2pm until 9pm, according to the Met Office.
Amber Heat Health Warning Extended
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended the amber heat health warning for the North East. The updated warning is in effect from 9pm on 26 June until 9am on 28 June. The matrix score has been changed from 13 to 12, indicating a 60-89% chance of medium impact across the region.
Significant Impacts on Health and Social Care
Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures. This includes a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with pre-existing health conditions, as well as an increase in water-related incidents as people seek to cool off.
Temperatures and Outlook
Despite thunderstorms and rain, temperatures are averaging in the high 20s Celsius today. The warm weather is expected to subside after this weekend, with next week seeing a return to normal summer temperatures. The heatwave across the UK has broken temperature records, including the hottest June day on record, just a month after the hottest May day on record.
