Amber heat health alerts have been issued for the bank holiday weekend as temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 33C in parts of the UK, potentially breaking the May record of 32.8C set in 1944. The alerts, which indicate a possible risk to life, significant travel delays and power cuts, will be in effect from 2pm on Friday until 5pm on Wednesday for the East Midlands, West Midlands, east of England, London and the south-east.
Yellow alerts have also been issued for the north-east and north-west of England, Yorkshire and Humber, and south-west England, warning of potentially significant impacts on health and social services, particularly for those over 75 or with existing health conditions. The Met Office confirmed that Friday was the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 26.9C at Heathrow.
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, 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 deputy chief forecaster Steve Kocher said: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30C is likely 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. It is likely that the May and spring UK temperature records will be broken.”
The public are advised to stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm, 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.
