London: Extreme heat expected in the United Kingdom this week has sparked concerns over impacts on health, schools, and transport, as a rare red heat health alert is issued. The Met Office revealed on Monday that this week's heatwave will see temperatures exceed 37 degrees Celsius in the shade and could even rise to 38-40 degrees Celsius in some parts of England and Wales, exacerbated by human-driven climate change intensifying the impact of a 'heat-dome' settling over western Europe.
According to Ghana News Agency, the hot conditions, which have been very rare in the UK until now, will be accompanied by high humidity and very warm and humid nights, making it difficult for people to recover overnight. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the red health warning for six regions of England - the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and East of England - from 1 am on Wednesday (0000 GMT Tuesday night) until 11 pm on Thursday.
This alert indicates 'a risk to life for even the healthy population' and potential effects beyond health and social care, impacting transport systems, food, water, energy supplies, and businesses. It is the second red heat health warning to be issued, following the first in July 2022 when temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius in the UK for the first time.
A separate amber health alert has also been put in place for the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber for the same period, meaning the impact is expected to be felt across the entire health service in these areas.
Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, emphasized, 'Very hot weather is forecast across large parts of England in the coming days, and we are urging health and social care services across the country to ensure they are prepared.' He added that it's crucial for people to understand the risks posed by high temperatures and take steps to protect themselves and others, especially vulnerable populations.
The Met Office has also issued a red weather warning, covering an area stretching from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham from 9 am on Wednesday to 9 pm on Thursday, warning of 'substantial changes' in working practices and daily routines.
There is a high risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, including potential power and essential service outages. Many people are expected to flock to coastal areas, lakes, and rivers, heightening the risk of water safety incidents.
An amber weather warning is in place for a larger area of England and Wales between Monday and Thursday. Will Lang, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, indicated that extreme temperatures are expected, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday, stressing the discomfort of very high overnight temperatures and humid conditions.
Lang noted to the Press Association that these conditions surpass the heat seen in June previously and are on 'a much bigger scale' than the recent heatwave experienced at the end of May. Travel disruptions, including road delays, closures, and cancellations to rail and air travel, are anticipated as well.