The Met Office has urged households in 54 areas across the UK to prepare torches and batteries for Friday as a scorching heatwave threatens to cause power cuts. The national weather forecaster warned that extreme heat could damage heat-sensitive systems and equipment, leading to disruptions in electricity and other services for homes and businesses.
Amber Warning for Extreme Heat
An amber warning for extreme heat will be in effect from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM on Friday, covering London, the South East, East Midlands, East of England, North West England, South West England, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber. The Met Office advises residents to have multiple torches and extra batteries on hand in case of a power cut.
Essential Advice for Power Outages
In the event of a power cut, the Met Office provides the following guidance:
- If electricity is crucial for medical equipment, contact your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to be added to the Priority Register for assistance.
- Keep mobile phones charged for emergency calls.
- Keep fridges and freezers closed, covered with a blanket, to maintain cold temperatures for hours.
- Store important documents safely and keep them accessible.
- Check on elderly neighbours to ensure they are prepared.
- Switch off appliances like irons, ovens, electric fires, and fryers to avoid hazards when power returns.
- For digital landline users without mobile phones or in poor signal areas, contact your communications provider for support.
List of Affected Areas
The 54 areas under the amber warning include:
East Midlands: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland.
East of England: Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock.
London and South East England: Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, Slough, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham.
North West England: Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Greater Manchester, Halton, Merseyside, Warrington.
South West England: Gloucestershire.
West Midlands: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire.
Yorkshire and Humber: North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire.
Stay Prepared
The Met Office emphasizes the importance of preparation as temperatures soar. Residents are urged to follow the advice to minimize risks during potential power outages.
