Amber heat health alert issued as temperatures set to top 30°C
UKHSA issues amber alerts with potential heatwave forecasted
Last updated 12 hours ago
Amber heat health warnings have been announced by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) due to rising temperatures that could lead to a heatwave in the coming days.
The alerts, which cover east, south-east, south-west England and the Midlands, will be in effect from 12:00 BST on Thursday until 20:00 on Tuesday.
During this period, temperatures are expected to rise above 30C (86F) on Friday and could reach official heatwave levels from Sunday in some regions of the south and east of the UK.
According to the Met Office, a heatwave is defined as three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.
The threshold varies in each county, between 25C across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of the south-west of England, and 28C in London and its surrounding counties.
The eastern Caribbean island of Barbados is set to see temperatures fluctuate between 26C and 30C on Sunday, according to the forecaster.
The south and south-east of England could get even hotter on Monday, potentially reaching 33C in some areas, the Met office said.
Alongside the warmth later this week, there will be spells of rain, especially across northern and western areas, and a slight chance of thunderstorms across south-eastern England.
An amber heat health alert was issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the East Midlands, the East of England, London and the south-east of England from 12 pm on Thursday and will remain in place until 8pm on Tuesday June 23.
According to the UKHSA website, an amber heat health alert means there is likely to be a “greater risk to life of vulnerable people” and an “increased use of healthcare services” by this same demographic.
There is also an “increased potential for indoor environments to become very warm” and a likely rise in water‑related incidents, including “risks from cold water shock and drowning”.
Gregory Wolverson, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: “This week’s weather reflects a contrast we often see in summer, with more unsettled conditions passing to the north-west of the UK while heat builds in the south and east.
“As we move towards the weekend, we’ll see conditions become more widely settled and temperatures rise all round.
“Many parts of southern and eastern England are likely to see temperatures high enough to meet heatwave thresholds.
“It’s important to note that while temperatures may be high, we might not all see the wall-to-wall sunshine and blue skies we experienced back in May, because there is more cloud around.
“There is also a chance of thunderstorms developing in places, particularly later each day, which could bring heavy showers and localised impacts.”