UK weather live: Met Office issues RED heatwave alert as hottest day ever looms

UK weather live: Met Office issues RED heatwave alert as hottest day ever looms The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning as temperatures could surge as high as 40C - which may mean we see the hottest day ever this week The Met Office has issued a red weather warning ahead of a spell of “exceptional” hot and humid weather this week. The red alert comes into force on Wednesday and warns of temperatures rising as high as 40C in some places. The current temperature record is 40.3C in the UK, which was recorded in July 2022. There is a population-wide risk of serious illness or danger to life, the Met Office said. The red warning is scheduled to last until 9pm on Thursday. Amber warnings are in force from Monday to Thursday over a wider area of southern England. Key Events The Met Office has said that in red warning areas maximum temperatures are likely to exceed 37C, perhaps rising to 38 to 40C in some places. The heat will be accompanied by high humidity, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts, with very warm and humid night times also reducing the ability for people to recover overnight. Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to make precautions and adapt their daily routines where possible to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK. Hot weather is dangerous for pets because they cannot sweat like humans to cool down. As pets are unable to communicate when they are overheating or struggling with dehydration, they are at risk of suffering in extreme conditions more than most. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway, said: “Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat. The last time the UK recorded temperatures this high was in July 2022, but on this occasion the heat is expected to be accompanied by high humidity. “As well as very high daytime temperatures, there will be consecutive nights where temperatures do not drop below 20°C, which is called a Tropical Night. This will make it very hard for people to recover from the daytime heat, exacerbating the heat stress impacts.” According to the Met Office, the sweltering heat could last until at least Thursday, sparking weather warnings and concerns for vulnerable people. Forecasters have said there is “growing confidence” this week could break the record for the hottest June temperature of 35.6C, which was set in 1976 in Southampton. The Met Office has issued a health warning ahead of the red weather warning that is due to come into effect this week. Scientists warn Britain faces a humidity “heat dome” over the coming days during an unprecedented heatwave driven by climate change as daytime temperatures are expected to hit 40C this week with ‘tropical nights’ making it difficult to sleep. The Met Office has issued a new red weather warning for extreme heat on Wednesday and Thursday. The warning is due to come into force over England and Wales at 9am on Wednesday and lasts until 9pm on Thursday. The forecaster told Brits to brace for “an exceptional spell of hot and humid weather... with impacts to the general population highly likely”. There is a population-wide risk of serious illness or danger to life, the forecaster has said. The forecaster said: "During the heatwave expected to affect a large part of England and Wales this week, the highlighted area now looks increasingly likely to see a two to three day period where maximum temperatures in the shade exceed 37C, perhaps rising to 38 to 40C in some places." Areas impacted by red weather warning - Northamptonshire - Bedford - Cambridgeshire - Central Bedfordshire - Essex - Hertfordshire - Luton - Thurrock - Bracknell Forest - Buckinghamshire - East Sussex - Greater London - Hampshire - Kent - Milton Keynes - Oxfordshire - Reading - Slough - Surrey - West Berkshire - West Sussex - Windsor and Maidenhead - Wokingham - Bath and North East Somerset - Bristol - Dorset - Gloucestershire - North Somerset - Somerset - South Gloucestershire - Swindon - Wiltshire - Blaenau Gwent - Bridgend - Caerphilly - Cardiff - Carmarthenshire - Merthyr Tydfil - Monmouthshire - Neath Port Talbot - Newport - Powys - Rhondda Cynon Taf - Swansea - Torfaen - Vale of Glamorgan - Herefordshire - Warwickshire - West Midlands Conurbation - Worcestershire Bin collection rules have changed in the heatwave with councils issuing new advice for householders. People are being urged to put their bins out earlier than usual after amber heat health warnings were issued for much of the UK with the potential for record-breaking heat this week. Experts are warning of a deadly disease you catch in your own garden that could spike in the UK this week during the 38C heatwave. The risk of Legionnaires’ disease - a potentially fatal lung infection caused by inhaling droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria – increases during hot weather, particularly in stagnant or untreated water systems. Hay fever sufferers have been warned that the pollen count is going to be very high across much of the UK this week. Hay fever symptoms usually appear when the pollen count exceeds 50. Different people have different tolerance to different pollen types and counts, so some will be more sensitive than others. Nine regions face very high pollen counts today. The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued nine heat health alerts - meaning temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population. The alerts are intended to provide early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when extreme heat puts the population at risk. The amber alerts mean significant impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups. All of the alerts are in force until June 26, the agency has said. The Met Office has put out a warning to Brits about the dangers of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Heatwaves are most common in summer when high pressure develops across an area. High pressure systems are slow moving and can persist over an area for a prolonged period of time, such as days or weeks. They can occur in the UK due to the location of the jet stream, which is usually to the north of the UK in the summer. This can allow high pressure to develop over the UK resulting in persistent dry and settled weather. There are specific criteria that must be met for the Met Office to announce a heatwave, and these vary from place to place. “Temperatures will quickly rise on Monday morning and are forecast to reach 34°C in southern parts of England," the forecaster said. “The heat will build further into Tuesday, with highs of 37°C forecast for southern England and 35°C southeast Wales. The peak of the heatwave is now forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures are expected to climb to 38°C. By Friday conditions will be less hot, with highs of 33°C forecast across eastern areas. “Overnight temperatures will also be very high, with widespread Tropical Nights, where the temperature does not drop below 20°C, across southern parts of England especially in urban areas. Humidity is also a factor, making this heatwave even more impactful with heat stress a danger to all.” The Met Office alerts also warn of an increase in potential water safety incidents, as more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes or rivers. During the previous record-breaking heatwave , from May 24 to 31, the UK saw a horrifying death toll of 19 children and adults killed in water related incidents during one week. In response the Mirror launched our 'Save Lives for Sam' campaign to stop the "catastrophic" deaths of 33 children who drown in England every year - "the equivalent of a classroom of children lost". Bereaved families, Olympic legends and safety organisations have joined together to call on the Government to take five key steps to save young lives across the country. People heading to the coast should be mindful that sea-surface temperatures are not as high as they would be in mid-summer. Samantha Hughes is the National Water Safety Partner at the RNLI. She said: “With warmer weather approaching, it’s important to remember that the water is still cold. Entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold water shock, causing a sudden increase in breathing and heart rate, which may trigger panic. “If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, relax and control your breathing. You may need to gently use your hands to help you stay afloat, and it’s ok if your legs sink—everyone floats differently. “Where possible, always choose a lifeguarded beach, and swim between the red and yellow flags. In a coastal emergency remember to call 999 for the coastguard.” With both amber alerts including warnings that transport may be affected by the heat, it is important to avoid delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, and changing your travel plans if necessary. If using public transport remember to: - Carry some water with you and drink lots of fluids - If you feel unwell get off at next stop for some fresh air - Dress light, choose light fabrics in light colours - Help others - for anyone struggling, ice packs/cold compresses to wrists, neck, elbows can help them cool down quickly - Take a small hand-held battery fan To stay safe in the heat it is recommended that you: - Drink plenty of fluids - Keep out of the sun and avoid any exercise between 11am-3pm when the sun is strongest - Close curtains in rooms that face the sun to keep your home cool - Take water with you when you go out - Stay in the shade while outdoors - Wear sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat The Met Office has said it is now likely the current highest temperature on record for June will be broken. A temperature of 35.6C was recorded in Southampton in June 1976 and Camden Square in June 1957. With the mercury forecast to his 38C by the end of the week this looks set to be shattered. A second weather warning is coming later this week, starting in the early hours of Wednesday and covering the period until midnight on Thursday. Temperatures in this period are forecast to peak at around 38C. While both are amber alerts, this warning covers a larger area than the Monday/Tuesday one, covering places as far north as Bolton and Selby. For the full list of all 90 areas covered by this warning, see the first post in our blog. People living in this wide swathe of the UK have been given even more serious warnings, with the Met Office saying: “Population-wide adverse health effects are likely to be experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potential serious illness or danger to life.” Brits have also been warned of possible power cuts and the loss of other essential services, a sharp spike in water safety incidents and people head to the costs and delays and possible closures on transport routes. “Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required,” the forecaster added. Met Office weather charts show temperatures are due to soar by this afternoon with the hottest weather in the South West where some parts will see the mercury reaching 33C. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree, said: “The forecast heatwave is developing into an impactful severe weather event, with record breaking June temperatures and very high humidity. The combination of heat and humidity will be oppressive and bring impacts across society from public health and infrastructure, to power and water supplies. “As well as very high daytime temperatures, there will be consecutive nights where temperatures do not drop below 20°C, which is called a Tropical Night. This will make it very hard for people to recover from the daytime heat, exacerbating the heat stress impacts.” There are two amber weather warnings in force for parts of the UK this week. The first one started at midnight and runs until 11:59pm tomorrow. This is the first of the week’s amber warnings and covers 72 areas. Brits in these areas are warned that: - More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents - Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat - The wider population are likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat related illnesses - Some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays - Some changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required - An increased chance that some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail, leading to power cuts and the loss of other services to some homes and businesses Where does the first warning cover? 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 & South East England - 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 South West England - Bath and North East Somerset - Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole - Bristol - Devon - Dorset - Gloucestershire - North Somerset - Somerset - South Gloucestershire - Swindon - Wiltshire Wales - Blaenau Gwent - Bridgend - Caerphilly - Cardiff - Merthyr Tydfil - Monmouthshire - Neath Port Talbot - Newport - Powys - Rhondda Cynon Taf - Torfaen - Vale of Glamorgan West Midlands - Herefordshire - Shropshire - Staffordshire - Stoke-on-Trent - Telford and Wrekin - Warwickshire - West Midlands Conurbation - Worcestershire The following regions and local authorities are affected by the amber weather warning from Wednesday onwards. 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 & South East England - Bracknell Forest - Brighton and Hove - Buckinghamshire - East Sussex - Greater London - Hampshire - Kent - Medway - Milton Keynes - Oxfordshire - Reading - Slough - Southampton - Surrey - West Berkshire - West Sussex - Windsor and Maidenhead - Wokingham North West England - Cheshire East - Cheshire West and Chester - Greater Manchester - Halton - Lancashire - Merseyside - Warrington South West England - Bath and North East Somerset - Bristol - Devon - Dorset - Gloucestershire - North Somerset - Plymouth - Somerset - South Gloucestershire - Swindon - Torbay - Wiltshire Wales - Blaenau Gwent - Bridgend - Caerphilly - Cardiff - Carmarthenshire - Ceredigion - Conwy - Denbighshire - Flintshire - Gwynedd - Isle of Anglesey - Merthyr Tydfil - Monmouthshire - Neath Port Talbot - Newport - Powys - Rhondda Cynon Taf - Swansea - Torfaen - Vale of Glamorgan - Wrexham West Midlands - Herefordshire - Shropshire - Staffordshire - Stoke-on-Trent - Telford and Wrekin - Warwickshire - West Midlands Conurbation - Worcestershire Yorkshire & Humber - East Riding of Yorkshire - North Lincolnshire - North Yorkshire - South Yorkshire