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North Wales Chronicle
42 minutes ago
- Climate
- North Wales Chronicle
Fire risk warning issued by Aviva amid increase in claims
The number of garden fire claims increased in April and May this year, according to data from insurance giant Aviva, overtaking every other month in 2024. The insurer said that the average fire claim involving a garden in the UK amounts to nearly £16,000. The rise in fire claims comes off the back of the UK experiencing its sunniest spring on record. The UK has just endured its sunniest spring on record. (Image: Lucy North/PA Wire) Around 630 hours of sunshine were recorded across the country between March 1 and May 27, according to provisional figures from the Met Office. This beats the previous record of 626 hours set back in 2020. An increase in people enjoying barbecues and bonfires in their gardens during the warmer weather is, in part, being blamed for the increase in fire claims, Aviva said. Lightning claims have also increased over the past five years, according to the insurers data. Lightning strikes can spark fires in homes, Aviva warned. They can cause electrical items to break or malfunction, leading to fires. Examples of some fire claims seen by the insurer include: Senior underwriting manager at Aviva, Hannah Davidson, said: 'Although warmer weather is often welcome news, we're urging people to remain vigilant when it comes to fire safety. 'The warm weather, paired with a lack of rain means that once started, a fire can spread very quickly – particularly as the ground is dry. 'Popular items in gardens, such as wooden fences and sheds, can be flammable, causing flames to spread quickly. "A small fire in the garden can also spread to the home, causing significant damage. 'Whether it's hosting friends for a barbecue, charging devices and tools outside or in the home, or even hanging a mirror outside in your garden for decoration, it's worth paying close attention to what could become a potential fire hazard.' Following the increase in claims, Aviva has issued several safety tips to help reduce the risk of a fire in your home or garden: Aviva said: "If possible, it is best to avoid garden bonfires which can quickly get out of control, especially during dry and windy conditions. "If you do light a fire, never leave it unattended and keep water or a hose nearby. "Exercise caution with fire pits and extinguish them before you go inside." The insurer added it is also a good idea to keep an eye on fires in neighbouring gardens, in case they spread. Before barbecuing, Aviva urged Brits to check the weather forecast for any wind which can make barbecuing "significantly more dangerous". People enjoying barbecues in their gardens during warmer weather is one of the theings being blamed for an increase in fire claims recently. (Image: Getty Images) The insurance experts explained: "Gusts of wind can carry hot embers or sparks several feet away, increasing the possibility of a fire. "When barbecuing, be mindful that ash can stay hot for days, so wait until it has cooled before disposing. "Always place disposable barbecues on a non-flammable or heat resistant surface, away from grass, fences, or sheds and leave them until they have cooled completely." Overheating lithium-ion batteries can cause fires, so always unplug chargers once tools are fully charged. Aviva added: "Avoid charging devices overnight or leaving them unattended." Sunlight magnified through glass objects can start fires, Aviva warned. "Keep mirrors, bottles, and other reflective items away from direct sunlight," the insurer added. RECOMMENDED READING: Cigarettes and matches can easily ignite dry grass or decking. Aviva said: "Always extinguish them fully and dispose of them safely."
Powys County Times
43 minutes ago
- Climate
- Powys County Times
Met Office heatwave warning with hot summer predicted in UK
The Met Office is warning of an increased risk of heatwaves amid predictions that it is twice as likely that summer will be hot across the UK. The prediction by the forecasting body comes following the country's sunniest Spring on record. There were about 630 hours of sunshine between March 1 and May 27, in what has also been the driest spring for more than a century. Now, the Met is predicting a hot summer ahead. What is a heatwave? Met Office heatwave warning with hot summer predicted in UK The Met Office's three-month outlook predicts that the chance of a hot summer is higher than normal, bringing an increased risk of heatwaves and heat-related impacts. The outlook shows it is 2.3 times more likely than normal that the UK will be hot over meteorological summer, which begins on June 1 and ends on August 31. The average temperatures across the UK over those months range from 10 to 17C, with the south east of England experiencing the higher averages of 16 to 17C. The Met Office said: 'While the current three-month outlook shows an increased chance of a hot summer, the temperature signals for this summer are similar to those for recent years and consistent with our warming climate. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Weather from the Met Office (@metoffice) 'The increased chance of hotter than average temperatures is not a guarantee of prolonged hot weather or heatwaves, but it does mean that heatwave conditions could be reached at times. 'However, it's important to bear in mind that an increased chance of hot conditions could also reflect a mix of hot and cool days, warm nights, or less extreme levels of warmth rather than continual heatwave conditions specifically.' The summers of 2018 and 2021 to 2023 were also predicted to be hot, with data showing it has been a decade since the last time a summer was predicted to be cool, in 2015. The latest outlook also shows that the levels of rainfall and wind speed for the next three months will likely be near average. How to cope with hot weather The three-month long-range forecast does not identify weather for a specific day or week but gives an indication of possible temperature, rainfall and wind speed over the period as a whole. How to stay cool in summer in the UK The NHS suggests staying out of the heat if possible, adding that it is best to stay shaded, particularly between 11am and 3pm. It also recommends using sunscreen, wearing a hat and light clothes, and avoiding exercise or activity that makes you hotter. To cool yourself down, have cold food and drinks and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. Recommended reading: Avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks. It is also vital to keep your living space cool, closing windows during the day and opening them at night when it is cooler. Electric fans can also help if the temperature is below 35 degrees.
Metro
an hour ago
- Climate
- Metro
UK weather twice as likely to be hot this summer after sunniest spring on record
This summer is likely to be a hot one with an increased risk of heatwaves forecasters have predicted. Last year, the UK had a disappointing (lack of) summer, due to cooler winds brought down by a shifted jet stream. But this year, we're 2.3 times more likely to see temperatures warmer than average. The Met Office's three-month outlook predicts average temperatures over the three summer months will range from 10-17°C, with the south east of England experiencing the higher averages of 16-17°C. Between March 1 and May 27, there were already some 630 hours of sunshine clocked up across the country. It has also been the driest spring for more than a century, so don't be surprised if you soon see hosepipe bans in place. And the warm weather can also bring with it increased risk of fires. Insurer Aviva warned today that they have already seen claims for fires spike during the warm spring, as people get their barbecues out, and dry conditions make grass more likely to catch light. In 2022, a freakishly hot 40°C summer saw wildfires destroy homes in London, as well as blaze alongside a motorway, with the fire brigade seeing their busiest day since World War Two. On Saturday, the last day of meteorological spring, temperatures soared to 8C above the average for the time of year. While there might be some rain tomorrow, in general the weather is set to be warm. The Met Office said: 'While the current three-month outlook shows an increased chance of a hot summer, the temperature signals for this summer are similar to those for recent years and consistent with our warming climate. 'The increased chance of hotter than average temperatures is not a guarantee of prolonged hot weather or heatwaves, but it does mean that heatwave conditions could be reached at times. More Trending 'However, it's important to bear in mind that an increased chance of hot conditions could also reflect a mix of hot and cool days, warm nights, or less extreme levels of warmth rather than continual heatwave conditions specifically.' The summers of 2018 and 2021-2023 were also predicted to be hot. with data showing it has been a decade since the last time a summer was predicted to be cool, in 2015. The latest outlook also shows the levels of rainfall and wind speed for the summer will likely be near average. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Where you can spot Northern Lights in the UK tonight MORE: UK marks sunniest spring on record with 630 hours of sunshine MORE: Maps show where and when rain will fall across the UK this week
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Met Office warns Brits twice as likely to get heatwave scorcher this summer
Brits could be set to swelter this summer with Met Office forecasters claiming the country could see rocketing temperatures due in part to the "background warming of the UK climate" The Met Office has warned Brits will be twice as likely to experience a scorching heatwave this summer. Forecasters also warned about an increased risk of heatwaves as we enter meteorological summer. The prediction comes after the country experienced its sunniest spring on record with an estimated 630 hours of sunshine recorded across the country between March 1 and May 27, marking it as one of the "driest" for more than a century. On May 31, temperatures surged to 8C higher than the average for this time of year. The rocketing temperatures could be a sign of the scorcher to come in the summer. The Met Office said in its three-month outlook that the odds of a scorcher summer are higher than usual and bring an increased risk of heatwaves and the heat-related impacts that come along with it. The Met office said the increased likelihood of a hot summer is "largely being driven by the background warming of the UK climate." The forecast said there is a 2.3 times normal chance the summer will be hotter than average. It added there was a 45 per cent likelihood of this and that there was a 30 per cent chance it would be wetter than average. This meteorological summer, which kicked off on June 1 and ends on August 31, could see average temperatures across the UK ranging from between 10 to 17C with the south east of England experiencing higher averages of 16 to 17C. The three-month outlook suggested that Brits could wind speeds across the UK will remain on the average mark. While the latest outlook offers a long-range forecast, it does not offer any individual daily predictions. A Met Office spokesperson said: "While the current three-month outlook shows an increased chance of a hot summer, the temperature signals for this summer are similar to those for recent years and consistent with our warming climate. "The increased chance of hotter than average temperatures is not a guarantee of prolonged hot weather or heatwaves, but it does mean that heatwave conditions could be reached at times." The Met Office added: "However, it's important to bear in mind that an increased chance of hot conditions could also reflect a mix of hot and cool days, warm nights, or less extreme levels of warmth rather than continual heatwave conditions specifically." The Met Office has a clear definition for a heatwave, describing it as "an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at the time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity." A region typically needs three days of daily maximum temperatures to reach or go beyond the heatwave temperature. "Heatwaves are most common in summer when high pressure develops across an area," the Met Office said in its heatwave explainer. "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."
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Fire risk warning issued by Aviva amid increase in claims
The insurer said that the average fire claim involving a garden in the UK amounts to nearly £16,000. The rise in fire claims comes off the back of the UK experiencing its sunniest spring on record. The UK has just endured its sunniest spring on record. (Image: Lucy North/PA Wire) Around 630 hours of sunshine were recorded across the country between March 1 and May 27, according to provisional figures from the Met Office. This beats the previous record of 626 hours set back in 2020. The biggest fire risks in UK homes and gardens An increase in people enjoying barbecues and bonfires in their gardens during the warmer weather is, in part, being blamed for the increase in fire claims, Aviva said. Lightning claims have also increased over the past five years, according to the insurers data. Lightning strikes can spark fires in homes, Aviva warned. They can cause electrical items to break or malfunction, leading to fires. Staying safe during a thunderstorm Examples of some fire claims seen by the insurer include: Sheds, fencing and decking being destroyed by garden bonfires Embers from a barbecue landing on a shed and setting its contents ablaze Ash from a fire pit causing a garage fire Senior underwriting manager at Aviva, Hannah Davidson, said: 'Although warmer weather is often welcome news, we're urging people to remain vigilant when it comes to fire safety. 'The warm weather, paired with a lack of rain means that once started, a fire can spread very quickly – particularly as the ground is dry. 'Popular items in gardens, such as wooden fences and sheds, can be flammable, causing flames to spread quickly. "A small fire in the garden can also spread to the home, causing significant damage. 'Whether it's hosting friends for a barbecue, charging devices and tools outside or in the home, or even hanging a mirror outside in your garden for decoration, it's worth paying close attention to what could become a potential fire hazard.' Things that could invalidate your home insurance How to avoid a fire starting in your home Following the increase in claims, Aviva has issued several safety tips to help reduce the risk of a fire in your home or garden: Fire safety Aviva said: "If possible, it is best to avoid garden bonfires which can quickly get out of control, especially during dry and windy conditions. "If you do light a fire, never leave it unattended and keep water or a hose nearby. "Exercise caution with fire pits and extinguish them before you go inside." The insurer added it is also a good idea to keep an eye on fires in neighbouring gardens, in case they spread. Barbecue with caution Before barbecuing, Aviva urged Brits to check the weather forecast for any wind which can make barbecuing "significantly more dangerous". People enjoying barbecues in their gardens during warmer weather is one of the theings being blamed for an increase in fire claims recently. (Image: Getty Images) The insurance experts explained: "Gusts of wind can carry hot embers or sparks several feet away, increasing the possibility of a fire. "When barbecuing, be mindful that ash can stay hot for days, so wait until it has cooled before disposing. "Always place disposable barbecues on a non-flammable or heat resistant surface, away from grass, fences, or sheds and leave them until they have cooled completely." Unplug appliances once charged Overheating lithium-ion batteries can cause fires, so always unplug chargers once tools are fully charged. Aviva added: "Avoid charging devices overnight or leaving them unattended." Watch windowsills Sunlight magnified through glass objects can start fires, Aviva warned. "Keep mirrors, bottles, and other reflective items away from direct sunlight," the insurer added. RECOMMENDED READING: Dispose of cigarettes carefully Cigarettes and matches can easily ignite dry grass or decking. Aviva said: "Always extinguish them fully and dispose of them safely."
