Temperatures are expected to reach up to 33C in parts of the UK on Sunday as the country braces for a fifth heatwave over the coming week.
Yellow heat health alerts came into force at 9am on Saturday as temperatures rose throughout the day, reaching up to 28C in the South and South East, and up to 27C across most of central England.
Sunday's Forecast
Sunday is set to see some spells of rain in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England, and some isolated showers may break out in the South East, according to the Met Office. But it will remain largely dry and sunny elsewhere, with temperatures set to reach the high 20s for most people.
The south and south-eastern parts of the UK could see temperatures climb into the 30s, potentially reaching up to 33C in the South East, the Met Office said.
Health Warnings
With another heatwave on the way, health officials have warned of risks when taking some medicines, including ibuprofen, in hot weather as they can make it harder for the body to stay hydrated, regulate temperature or cope with sun exposure.
Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, said: “Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), commonly used to treat acid reflux and heartburn, have also been linked to a very low risk of a lupus-like skin reaction triggered by sun exposure, and common painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen may also increase sun sensitivity.”
Wildfire Risk
Any wildfires are likely to be exceptionally severe on Sunday in almost all of the east and south-east of England, according to the Fire Severity Index. “Exceptional” severity is its highest ranking. The Met Office data includes rainfall, temperature and humidity, and agencies use the index to assess the severity of fire if it starts. It does not cover the chances of wildfires occurring.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London. The alerts are to last until 9pm on Tuesday. They warn that the hot weather is likely to affect the wellbeing of the population and put additional pressure on healthcare services.
Heatwave Conditions to Return
The Met Office said heatwave conditions will likely return next week, with a high of 36C expected in parts of East Anglia and south-east England by Thursday.
Two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June led to more than 2,800 excess deaths, and two more heatwaves in July have fuelled drought and wildfires.
The National Trust is asking people to sign a petition calling on the Government to make tackling climate change a national mission. It comes after several wildfires broke out in the UK over recent weeks, with large blazes at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, Llanwonno in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.
Reservoir Levels Drop
Reservoir storage in England has dropped to 69%, down from 72% a week ago and nearly 12 percentage points below the long-term average for the time of year, the Environment Agency said on Friday. Storage stood at 85% at the end of June, which was the average for that point in the year, but has fallen steadily in recent weeks.
Five reservoirs are now classed as having “exceptionally low” levels: Blagdon in Somerset (54% full); Clywedog in Powys, which provides water for central and north-west England (62%); the Dove group of reservoirs in Derbyshire (74%); Hanningfield in Essex (60%); and Wimbleball in Somerset (50%).
Last month was the driest July for England and Wales since records began in 1836, according to provisional figures released by the Met Office. Nineteen counties across England recorded effectively no rainfall – 1mm or less – across the whole of the month, Met Office figures show.
