The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has upgraded the North East heat health alert to amber, matching the rest of England. The warning, in effect from 12pm today (August 11) until 9pm on August 14, follows a yellow alert issued yesterday.
Significant impacts expected
The amber alert means significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to high temperatures. This could include a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, with potential impacts on younger age groups.
Increased demand on all health and social care services is likely, with monitoring for internal temperatures in care settings such as hospitals and care homes, as they may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment.
Risks to services and infrastructure
The intense heat could affect the ability of the workforce to deliver services. Indoor environments are likely to overheat, increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings. Medicines requiring strict temperature settings will need to be monitored.
Transport will likely see delays, with trains susceptible to issues on the lines caused by extreme heat, which can lead to staffing issues. There will be an increased demand for power exceeding capacity.
Water safety and temperature forecast
Water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning. The Met Office says it will be "Largely dry next week with plenty of sunshine and light winds. Turning hotter and more humid from mid-week with some very warm nights."
Temperatures are predicted to increase to 24°C today before soaring to 28°C on Wednesday and 30°C on Thursday. They will drop to 23°C on Friday. Some areas of the North East, such as Darlington and Barnard Castle in County Durham, may experience temperatures increasing to 31°C on Thursday.
