The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow heat-health alert for parts of the North West, including Merseyside, effective from Wednesday, July 8, until Sunday, July 12. The warning comes as temperatures are forecast to climb into the high 20s Celsius, marking the third heatwave of the year.
Timing and Affected Regions
The alert comes into force at 9am on Wednesday and remains active until 9pm on Sunday. Affected regions include the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North West. Meanwhile, an amber alert is in place for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, and South West, indicating a higher level of concern.
According to the UKHSA, the high temperatures could pose significant risks to individuals over the age of 65 and may lead to an increase in water-related incidents.
Temperature Forecast
While southern parts of the UK have already reached 28C this week, the warmer weather is expected to move northward as the week progresses. By the weekend, warm air is forecast to reach northern regions, with conditions becoming increasingly humid.
The Met Office forecasts a high of 26C on Wednesday, with cloudy conditions in the north and brighter spells in the south. Temperatures are set to rise to 27C on Thursday and 29C on Friday. The humid conditions will persist into the weekend, with 29C expected on Saturday and 27C on Sunday.
Looking ahead, the Met Office stated: "Turning brighter over the next few days with spells of strong sunshine. Temperatures climbing and starting to feel hot in the south. Staying dry with light winds."
Comparison with Previous Heatwaves
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates commented: "Parts of the UK are entering heatwave conditions: the third heatwave in the UK so far this year." However, he noted that this heatwave will differ from the previous two, as temperatures are not expected to reach record-breaking levels.
"Unlike the May and June heatwaves, we are not expecting this heatwave to be record-breaking. Temperatures this week are not expected to reach the highs we witnessed last month, though parts of southern England in particular are likely to see several days in the low 30s, and a few places could reach 34-35C later this week," Keates said.
The key difference is the source of the air. With high pressure positioned further west, westerly winds will continue to influence conditions, keeping temperatures below the extremes recorded in June and resulting in lower humidity levels.
