Amber heat health alerts have been issued for the bank holiday weekend as record-breaking May temperatures as high as 33C (91F) are expected in parts of the UK. The alerts, which indicate a possible risk to life as well as potential damage to properties, significant travel delays, and power cuts, were announced for the East Midlands, West Midlands, the east of England, London, and the south-east. They will be in effect from 2pm on Friday until 5pm on Wednesday.
Yellow Alerts and Vulnerable Populations
Yellow alerts were also issued for the north-east and north-west of England, Yorkshire and Humber, and south-west England. These indicate potentially significant impacts on health and social services, as well as risk of life to anyone over the age of 75 or with existing health conditions.
Hottest May Day Forecast
The UK is forecast to have its hottest ever day in May over the long weekend, marginally exceeding the 32.8C recorded around parts of London, West Sussex, and Kent on 29 May 1944. Friday marked the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 26.9C at Heathrow in the early afternoon, according to the Met Office.
The hotter weather is attributed to a change in wind direction, with strong jet-stream winds shifting north and bringing warmer air from hotter places. This follows one of central and southern England's driest Aprils on record, which left river levels below normal.
The peak temperature in the UK, predicted to occur in southern England or the Midlands on Monday, is likely to be hotter than many parts of the Mediterranean, including Rome, Athens, and Barcelona.
Met Office Warnings and Advice
Steve Kocher, the Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: "Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30C is likely to be recorded on Saturday and 32C on Sunday. Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday, when we could see 33C recorded in southern England and the Midlands."
He added: "It is likely that the May and spring UK temperature records will be broken over the bank holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8C. As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK. There will, however, be more cloud and some showers in Northern Ireland and western Scotland through the weekend. With relatively low sea surface temperatures, there is also likely to be some low cloud and sea fog clinging closely to western coasts."
The public are advised to stay hydrated and not spend too much time in direct sunlight, especially between 11am and 3pm. They are also advised to wear sunglasses and avoid alcohol, caffeine, and hot drinks where possible. Windows should be closed during the day and opened at night to let cooler air in.
