The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning across large parts of the UK, including Greater Manchester, as a heatwave is set to bring extreme temperatures next week. Forecasters warn the heat could build to 38°C in parts of southern England by Wednesday or Thursday, with Manchester expecting highs of 34°C and 35°C on those days.
The warning for Greater Manchester extends an amber alert already in place for southern and eastern England and Wales from Monday. It comes into effect in the North West at midnight on Wednesday and remains until 11.59pm on Thursday. The Met Office said the extreme heat poses a risk of population-wide adverse health effects, including potential serious illness or danger to life.
During the warning period, people in affected areas have been told to make substantial changes to working practices and daily routines. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “The forecast heatwave is developing into an impactful severe weather event, with record breaking June temperatures and very high humidity. The combination of heat and humidity will be oppressive and bring impacts across society from public health and infrastructure, to power and water supplies.”
There is also a risk of loss of power and other essential services, such as water, electricity, gas or mobile phone services, during the heatwave. Delays on roads and road closures are possible, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel. Health officials have issued heat-health alerts across England, with amber warnings in southern areas and yellow warnings for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and The Humber.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, urged people to take precautions: “Sustained periods of warm weather can result in serious health outcomes, especially for older adults. Simple steps such as staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool are key to staying safe.”
