The Met Office has issued a slate of advice to help those affected by hot weather. Households are being urged to switch off key appliances as power cuts could strike in as many as 51 areas for almost two days on Monday and Tuesday.
Why Power Cuts Are Expected
While power loss is usually associated with thunderstorms and lightning, the weather experts have warned that extreme heat could cause equipment and infrastructure to fail, leading to power cuts and loss of services, particularly in southern England and Wales where an amber warning is in place.
Met Office Advice for Power Cuts
The Met Office recommends that those who experience a power cut switch off appliances such as irons, ovens, electric fires, and fryers, as they could pose a hazard if the power returns unexpectedly.
Additional advice includes:
- Ensure you have multiple torches with extra batteries.
- Keep your mobile phone charged for emergencies.
- Keep fridges and freezers closed, with a blanket over them to retain cold.
- Keep important documents safe and handy.
- Look out for elderly neighbours and ensure they are prepared.
Amber Weather Warning Details
The amber warning for extreme heat begins Monday at 1am and continues until Tuesday, June 23 at 11.59pm. Temperatures will reach the mid-30s Celsius and remain above 20C overnight in affected areas, including London, South Wales, South East England, and South West England. Other regions like the Midlands, northern England, and Scotland will also see higher temperatures.
Priority Services Register
The Met Office advises signing up for the Priority Services Register, a free service for older and disabled people or those dependent on electricity for medical equipment. Ensure your care provider or equipment supplier has provided sufficient information on what to do during a power disruption.
List of Affected Areas
The 51 areas in England and Wales under the amber heat warning are:
- Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock
- Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, Reading, Slough, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham
- Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire
- Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan
The Met Office warns that heat-sensitive systems may fail, leading to power cuts and loss of other services. Temperatures may remain above 20 Celsius overnight in urban areas, with high humidity.
