UK heat health alerts upgraded to amber as country braces for bank holiday heatwave

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Heat health alerts have come into force across parts of the UK as the country braces for a heatwave over the bank holiday weekend.

Temperatures are expected to soar as high as 30C in London, which is hotter than holiday destinations including Mykonos, Santorini, and Ibiza.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber warnings across London, the South East, the East and the Midlands which started from 2pm on Friday, and yellow alerts across the rest of England.

Temperatures reached 28.4C in Cambridge, Heathrow and Cranwell, Lincolnshire, on Friday evening, the Met Office said.

The warnings mean there is likely to be a “significant” impact on health and social services, and a rise in deaths, according to the UKHSA.

Heat health warnings are in place across England (UKHSA)

The agency also said the alert means a “likely increased demand on all health and social care services”, issues managing medicines, and heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services.

Travel delays are also possible due to the high temperatures.

Alerts are in place until 5pm next Wednesday.

The mercury is set to climb to as high as 28C across the rest of the UK due to a period of high pressure, with the warm weather continuing into the bank holiday weekend.

The Met Office’s Tom Morgan has indicated a 40 per cent chance that southern England could see temperatures climb to 33C on Sunday.

This could overtake the current May record of 32.8C, which was set in Camden Square, London, back in 1922.

Any temperature above 29.4C will be the warmest May temperature recorded in the UK since 2012, the Met Office said.

Temperatures are expected to exceed 30C in London on Sunday (Met Office)

Temperatures are expected to exceed heatwave thresholds – defined as three consecutive days at or above a set temperature – in parts of the UK from Sunday. A heatwave is most likely to be declared in south-eastern England, forecasters said.

Met Office deputy chief forecaster, Steve Kocher, said: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30C is likely to be recorded on Saturday and 32C on Sunday. Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday when we could see 33C recorded in southern England and the Midlands.”

“It is likely that the May and Spring UK temperature records will be broken over the Bank Holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8C.

“As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK. There will however be more cloud and some showers in Northern Ireland and western Scotland through the weekend. With relatively low sea surface temperatures there is also likely to be some low cloud and sea fog clinging closely to western coasts.”

Along with the UKHSA alerts, the Met Office is urging people to be careful in coastal areas as many are expected to flood to the country’s beaches to soak up the sun.

“People heading to the coast should be mindful that sea surface temperatures are not as high as they would be in mid-summer when the UK more usually records temperatures in the 30Cs,” the Met Office said.

“Current sea surface temperatures range from 9C around Scotland to 13C around the south west of the England.”

Forecast for London

Friday will be a hot day with plenty of sunshine, staying a little cooler along the coast. Some could see a little rain and cloud on Saturday morning, but this will clear quickly for a bright, sunny and hot day, maximum temperature 30C.

The outlook for Sunday to Tuesday is largely bright and sunny throughout and notably hot, a little cooler along the coast. The wind will generally remain light throughout.

Forecast for Midlands

The intense high pressure has prompted the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to issue amber heat alerts (Getty)

The Midlands will see a largely dry and sunny day on Friday.

Any early cloud on Saturday will quickly break up giving way to a dry and sunny day, although sunshine maybe a little hazy at times. Feeling very warm in the strong sunshine. Maximum temperature 26C.

Conditions will remain dry and settled throughout Sunday and early next week with plenty of sunshine. Feeling hot by day with potentially some warm nights too.

Forecast for north of England

Friday will be a dry and warm day with hazy sunshine throughout. The wind will start off light but will pick-up slightly from late morning before easing once more by the evening. Maximum temperature 28C.

On Saturday, patchy cloud to start will give way to some sunny spells and light winds. It will be warm in most places, a little cooler along coasts. Maximum temperature 24C.

The outlook for Sunday to Tuesday is largely bright and sunny throughout and feeling very warm or hot for most, a little cooler near coasts.

Forecast for Scotland

Friday morning will start cloudy with some patchy light rain. Increasingly bright spells will develop through the day and the odd shower is possible. Maximum temperature 20C.

Saturday will be quite cloudy to start but increasingly bright or sunny weather will develop through the morning. Staying dry and warm through the day. Maximum temperature 20C.

The outlook for Friday to Sunday is variable, with cloud and sunny spells expected and staying mainly dry. It will be dry, warm and sunny Monday and Tuesday.

How to protect your health in hot weather

The UKHSA gives the following advice on keeping safe and healthy in hot weather:

If you are going to do a physical activity (for example exercise or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the early morning or the evening.
Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun.
Drink plenty of fluids and limit your alcohol intake.
Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you.
Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them.
Try to avoid direct sunlight, especially between 11am and 3pm when UV levels are highest.
If you are going out during this time, cover up with suitable clothing, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen liberally and re-apply frequently.