London is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the year, as a new yellow health warning has been issued for the capital. The UKHSA yellow alert warns that high temperatures are likely to put pressure on health and social care services and pose a serious risk to vulnerable people.
Record-Breaking Heat and Health Concerns
The latest hot spell comes after two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June were linked to more than 2,800 excess deaths, while two further heatwaves in July fuelled drought and wildfires. And records could be broken again next week, with the UK on course to smash the record for the number of days in a year when temperatures exceed 30C.
Temperatures have already topped 30C on 30 days this year — just four short of the annual record of 34. The year's highest temperature so far was 38C, recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 28.
Impact on Londoners and Services
In London, commuters are once again facing sweltering journeys on the Tube, while bus drivers continue to work in cabs that have reportedly reached temperatures of up to 40C on the hottest days. Health and social care services across the capital are preparing for a surge in demand, while authorities have warned people about the dangers of swimming in open water as Londoners look for ways to cool off.
The warnings come after a 14-year-old boy tragically died after entering the water at Millwall Dock last week.
Wildfires and Environmental Concerns
Meanwhile, the National Trust is asking people to sign a petition calling on the Government to make tackling climate change a national mission. Several wildfires have broken out across the UK over recent weeks, with large blazes at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, Llanwonno in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.
Fires are likely to become exceptionally severe on Sunday for almost all of the east and south-east of England, according to the Fire Severity Index. “Exceptional” severity is its highest ranking.
The Met Office data includes rainfall, temperature and humidity and agencies use the index to assess the severity of fire if it starts. It does not cover the chances of wildfires occurring.
Water Levels and Drought
Reservoir storage in England has dropped to 69%, down from 72% a week ago and nearly 12 percentage points below the long-term average for the time of year, the Environment Agency said on Friday. Storage stood at 85% at the end of June, which was the average for that point in the year, but has fallen steadily in recent weeks.
Five reservoirs are now classed as having “exceptionally low” levels: Blagdon in Somerset (54% full); Clywedog in Powys, which provides water for central and north-west England (62%); the Dove group of reservoirs in Derbyshire (74%); Hanningfield in Essex (60%); and Wimbleball in Somerset (50%).
Last month was the driest July for England and Wales since records began in 1836, according to provisional figures released by the Met Office. Nineteen counties across England recorded effectively no rainfall – 1mm or less – across the whole of the month, Met Office figures show.
Health Warning Details
The UKHSA yellow alert warns of a potential rise in deaths and serious illness among people aged 65 and over, those with existing medical conditions and young children. The alert is currently in place until 9pm on August 11.
