An amber heat health alert has been issued for the North East by the UK Health Security Agency, as temperatures are forecast to reach 29C this week. The warning is in effect from 1am on June 24 to 11pm on June 25, with officials cautioning that “significant impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures.”
Red Warnings for Other Regions
Elsewhere in England, a red health warning has been issued for six regions: the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and east of England. This alert runs from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday. People across the country are being urged to take care as the heat intensifies.
Met Office Warning: Severe Impacts Expected
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway warned: “Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat. The last time the UK recorded temperatures this high was in July 2022, but on this occasion the heat is expected to be accompanied by high humidity.”
He added: “As well as very high daytime temperatures, there will be consecutive nights where temperatures do not drop below 20°C, which is called a Tropical Night. This will make it very hard for people to recover from the daytime heat, exacerbating the heat stress impacts.”
How Hot Will It Be Today?
In the North East, temperatures are expected to reach the high 20s Celsius, with the Met Office forecasting highs of 29C in Newcastle. Some parts of the region could even hit 30C.
Risks of Hot Weather
According to the heat warning, the risks from such hot weather include: a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, as well as impacts on younger age groups; likely increased demand on all health and social care services; internal temperatures in care settings such as hospitals and care homes may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment; the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services; indoor environments overheating, increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings; issues managing medicines; staffing issues due to external factors such as transport; increased demand for power exceeding capacity; other sectors starting to observe impacts, including travel delays; and water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning.
Weather Warnings in Place
The amber heat health alert for the North East is in effect from 1am on June 24 to 11pm on June 25. The UK Health Security Agency stated: “Significant impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures.” Residents are advised to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day, and check on vulnerable neighbours and relatives.
