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Times
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Times
UK weather: health warnings issued as Britain braces for heatwave
Health alerts have come into force as the UK's fourth official heatwave of the summer begins, with temperatures hitting 34C. Parts of the country will be hotter than Jamaica, Cape Verde and Bali this week. Temperatures will be highest in southern areas, including Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the outskirts of London. On Tuesday, a temperature of 34C was recorded at Lakenheath Royal Air Force Base, Suffolk. The UK Health Security Agency issued amber heat health warnings for all areas of England, meaning that a rise in deaths, increased pressure on health services and disruption to travel are likely. Amber warnings are in place for the East Midlands, West Midlands, east of England, London and the southeast until Wednesday. Yellow warnings, which apply to vulnerable groups such as those aged 65 or over and people with health conditions, are in place for the rest of the country. They also warn of additional strains on health and social care services. Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics, said: 'We expect hundreds of vulnerable people across the country, particularly in central England, to die as a result of the high temperatures over the next 24 hours, and millions of pounds will be lost as productivity is reduced in overheating workplaces.' Last summer the UK Health Security Agency recorded 1,311 deaths during four heatwaves. The sweltering weather will continue on Wednesday, bringing 33-34C heat to eastern England, including Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and East Anglia. It should cool a little by Thursday, with highs of 29-30C expected in London and East Anglia. Monday's highest temperature was 31.9C at Heathrow. Seasonal averages are generally between 18-22C in the UK, and go up to 23C for London. Tom Crabtree, the Met Office's deputy chief meteorologist, said: 'Warmth is the focus in the forecast in the first half of this week, with temperatures likely to peak on Tuesday around the mid-30s, but remaining above average in the second half of the week, particularly further to the southeast. 'The exception to the widely warm conditions will be northwest Scotland on Monday, where showers will be more frequent. Warmth will develop there from Tuesday with temperatures peaking in the mid-to-high 20s.' At London Zoo, a Humboldt penguin cools off KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AP And a lion cub named Mali enjoys a lolly of frozen blood KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AP The Met Office defines a heatwave as temperatures meeting or exceeding a certain threshold for three consecutive days or more. This is 25C for most of the UK, but rises to 28C in London and its surrounding area. Wales may have its hottest day of the year on Tuesday but temperatures are not expected to break 2025 records in other parts of the UK. England's high for this year is 35.8C, recorded in Faversham, Kent, on July 1. The prolonged hot weather has caused the leaves of poplar and birch trees to turn brown. 'This isn't the sign of an early autumn' said Kathryn Brown, director of climate change and evidence at the Wildlife Trusts. 'It is the result of a hot and dry spring and summer. These conditions can seriously weaken trees longer-term.' The hot weather will add to drought concerns as officials warned that England was suffering from 'nationally significant' water shortfalls despite rain in July. The national drought group, which includes the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations, met on Tuesday. Five areas of the country remain in drought and six more have prolonged dry weather status. In England the lack of water has hit crop yields, reduced feed for livestock, damaged wetlands and river wildlife and has increased wildfires, the group said. In 2023, the cost of farm fires in the UK increased by 37 per cent to an estimated £110.3 million, according to the National Farmers' Union (NFU) Mutual's latest data. The national drought group called on the public to use less water. The River Wye and the Ely Ouse fell to their lowest recorded levels last month and nearly half of rivers fell to lower levels than normal. Low water levels in canals mean boaters are facing restrictions on movement between Leeds and Liverpool, Macclesfield, and Oxford. Five areas of the country remain in drought: Yorkshire; Cumbria and Lancashire; Greater Manchester; Merseyside and Cheshire; the East Midlands; and the West Midlands. Only the South East and South West have received normal levels of rainfall. Back in Brighton, many people were able to find less crowded spots from which to enjoy the sun and sea ALEX LENTATI/LNP DINENDRA HARIA/LNP DAVID MCHUGH/BRIGHTON PICTURES Rachel Hallos, vice-president of the NFU, said: 'Some farms are reporting significant drop in yields which is financially devastating for the farm business and could have impacts for the UK's overall harvest. 'Minimal grass growth means many livestock farmers are already tapping into winter feed stocks, raising the risk of higher production costs later in the year.' Households have heeded water companies' petitions to use less water, with Severn Trent recording a 20 per cent drop in usage in the past month. In Yorkshire, where a hosepipe ban has been in place since last month, Yorkshire Water customers have reduced their usage by 10 per cent, saving 80 million litres a day.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Will there be a drought in England?
Experts are warning that water levels in rivers and reservoirs in England are low with five areas in the UK officially in drought. The Environment Agency says it's a "nationally significant incident" as amber and yellow heat health warnings have been issued across the country. Most of England is now in a state of drought or prolonged dry weather - that's the category below drought. It comes after a lack of rain in March, April and May made it England's driest spring in 100 year according to the Met and Lothian in Scotland and western areas of Wales are also being closely monitored amid low water levels, according to water companies there. What is a drought? A drought is caused by a period of low rainfall. They can last as little as a few weeks or up to a few years. According to the Met Office, there are four common types of drought: Meteorological drought - when rainfall is below average for an areaEcological drought - when low water levels affect the environmentAgricultural drought - when low water levels affect farming and how well crops growHydrological drought - when streams and reservoirs are low How will the drought affect me? The areas currently in a drought are: Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Yorkshire, East Midlands and West Midlands. Meanwhile the North East, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, East Anglia, Thames, Wessex, Solent and South Downs are in a period of prolonged dry weather - the level down from drought. Experts are meeting to discuss ways to save water in the UK during this next period of hot weather. Some areas might be put under a hosepipe ban, which means households are asked not to use hosepipes to fill up things like paddling pools or to water plants to try and save water. Yorkshire water say the ban has helped to save 80 million litres of water per day.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Another heatwave has hit the UK – here's how to keep cool
It's been an uncharacteristically hot summer at home – and it's not over yet, with another heatwave hitting the UK this week. The fourth heatwave of the summer could see temperatures of up to 34C, with yellow heat health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency for most of England, except the north-east and north-west region. Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst told The Independent: 'The heatwave is looking likely to last the rest of the week. Beyond that, it should be a bit cooler.' Ahead of the heatwave, we've compiled the top tips for keeping cool. When you're out and about, basking in the sunshine, loose fabrics and even an electrolyte drink may be enough to keep you cool and hydrated, but when you're cooped up inside, with the sun beating through your windows, you may just need to call in the big guns. But there are lots of different cooling techniques out there, and plenty of urban myths, such as drinking hot drinks to cool down. On top of that, there are lots of cooling products and tons of jargon. You might not know air coolers from air conditioners or the difference between tower fans and pedestal fans. That's why we spoke to the experts about the best ways to stay comfortable at your desk and sleep breezily through the night. What qualifies as a heatwave? In the UK, an official heatwave occurs when a given area reaches a temperature threshold for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C, depending on where you're located across the country, explains Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Tony Wisson. In London, for instance, the threshold is 28C, in Aberdeen it's 25C. How to stay cool at home According to Met Office advice, when temperatures soar, we should try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when the UV rays are strongest. To stay cool indoors, 'close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler'. Alex Atkinson, air conditioning technician at Super Brothers, recommends 'minimising the use of ovens, stoves, or dryers during the hottest periods, alongside keeping hydrated and having cool showers throughout the day' to help take the edge off. If you've drawn the curtains, pulled the blinds down, and taken all the cool showers you can stomach, and you're still not feeling comfortable, it may be time to bring in a little extra help. Luckily, there are plenty of additional devices and tools that we can purchase to help keep our homes cool, and we've reviewed some of the best on the market. Fans A fan goes a long way to make a room feel less stuffy – but where you position it can make a big difference. Shawn Navarednam, an environmental care design engineer at Dyson, says that 'for circulation and cooling purposes, fans should point towards you or the inside of the room. Additionally, cooler air is denser and accumulates at the bottom of the room, so keeping your fan near the ground to sweep the cold air up will help.' The Vortex air cleanse (£164.99, took the top spot in our review of the best fans. It 'combines a sleek design with powerful performance at great value. It cools and heats quickly, is energy efficient, thanks to a smart thermostat, and will slot seamlessly into pretty much any home,' praised our tester. If you're looking for a quiet fan, we'd recommend Duux's whisper flex smart fan (£169.99, It has 30 speed settings and multiple modes, including natural wind mode, which our tester found to be 'noticeably different from the usual blasting air you find in most fans' and a much more relaxing experience. Portable fan If you're looking to cool down on the commute or even at the pub, you need one of the best portable fans. The next generation of these devices are quiet, surprisingly powerful and multipurpose, from handheld to wearable fans (a world away from the flimsy fans you impulsively buy on holiday). Portable fans can almost rival a tower fan, and one comes surprisingly close to functioning like an air conditioner or an air cooler. Senior tech critic Alex Lee has tested a whole host of different options and found the best portable fans for every need. The Commem turbo fan (£7, took the top spot in his review. 'It's the most powerful handheld fan I've tested to date, delivering such intense airflow that I've actually had to switch it off just to take a breather,' Alex said. 'The top speed genuinely feels like sitting in front of a small desk fan – it's that strong.' Air cooler A midpoint between a portable ACs and a fan, the best air coolers. Where fans push air around the room, air coolers use chilled water and ice to introduce cooler air to a room. They're not quite as effective as portable ACs, but they're much cheaper. Senior tech critic Alex Lee put the Igenix 10l smart digital air cooler IGFD7010WIFI (was £129.00, now £109, among others to the test and described it as a 'work of art'. It did a 'good – if slightly basic – job of cooling down hot rooms'. While it's reduced to £109, it's the perfect addition to your home ahead of the potential heatwave. Bedding Getting a full night's sleep in a heatwave may sound like an impossible dream, but there are some ways of keeping cool in bed. Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of Simba's charity partner, The Sleep Charity, says you should try 'spreading out as much as you can, like a starfish, as it can help to circulate air around your body better and encourage heat to escape, as you sleep.' It might also seem counterintuitive, but rather than having a cold shower before bed, Lisa suggests taking a warm shower right before bed. 'The warm water makes our body heat up, and then, when we get out of the shower, a rapid drop in temperature cools our body down.' Similarly, it's worthwhile to reconsider your bedding during the summer months. Our resident sleep expert and IndyBest assistant editor, Sarah Jones, found Simba's summer hybrid duvet (from £129, to be the best summer duvet. Even during a muggy, no-breeze night, where sleep usually feels impossible, 'I didn't wake up drenched in sweat or tossing around trying to find a cool spot,' she wrote. We'd also recommend trying Panda's bamboo mattress topper (£86, which took the top spot in our review of the best cooling mattress toppers. IndyBest tester Lois Borny noted that the 'gel-fused memory foam is engineered to be cooler than regular memory foam, containing gel capsules that draw heat from the body, while extra space allows heat to escape'.
The Independent
12-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
The deadly hidden dangers of heatwaves – and how to keep yourself safe
Heatwaves have been made 100 times more likely and 2-4C hotter due to climate change, scientists have warned. A rapid study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) research group found the heatwave last week in the south-east of England was around 10 times more likely than without human activity warming the planet. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London also estimated there were around 570 excess deaths between 19 June and 22 June due to the last heatwave, based on historic mortality data. Temperatures could reach 34C on Saturday after the mercury hit a high of 34.7C in the West Midlands on Friday. Wales, meanwhile, recorded its hottest day of the year as Usk hit 32.7C. Amber heat health alerts are in place for large parts of England, with authorities warning soaring temperatures over the weekend are likely to cause a rise in deaths. The alert, which covers the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London, will last until 9am on Monday. Here, The Independent looks at how you can keep yourself safe during a heatwave: Prevent dehydration The government advises staying hydrated during hot weather by drinking fluids regularly throughout the day, particularly if you are active. Water, diluted squash and lower-fat milks are recommended. While fruit juice, smoothies and soft drinks can seem refreshing, they often contain high levels of sugar, which may contribute to dehydration. It's best to limit how much of these you consume and opt for diet, sugar-free or no-added-sugar alternatives instead. If you're heading out, take a refillable bottle of water with you, and carry extra if travelling by car or public transport. Alcohol can dehydrate the body, so choosing alcohol-free drinks or alternating alcoholic drinks with water is advised. Protect yourself from the sun The sun in the UK is strong enough to cause sunburn, with children especially vulnerable to skin damage. To reduce your risk, follow these sun safety measures: Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest Wear loose, light-coloured clothing made from tightly woven fabric, such as long-sleeved shirts, trousers or long skirts Protect your head, neck, face and ears with a wide-brimmed hat Use sunglasses to shield your eyes from the sun Apply sunscreen generously and top it up regularly, especially after swimming or using a towel. The NHS recommends using sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and a UVA rating of four or five stars. How to keep your home cool Homes can become uncomfortably warm during hot weather, especially at night when trying to sleep. To keep indoor temperatures down, consider the following steps: Keep blinds and curtains closed on windows that face direct sunlight during the day If your home has external shutters or shades, keep them closed too Try to sleep or rest in the coolest part of the house When it's cooler outside than indoors, typically during the night, open windows if it is safe, and create a cross-breeze to help air circulate Use electric fans if the indoor temperature is below 35C, but avoid directing airflow straight at your body, as this can contribute to dehydration Make sure heating systems are switched off Turn off any lights or electronic devices not being used, as they can generate extra heat If the temperature outside is cooler, especially in shaded areas, consider spending time outdoors Public spaces such as places of worship, libraries or supermarkets may be cooler than your home. If they are nearby, visiting one can offer a helpful break from the heat. Heat exhaustion happens when the body gets too hot and struggles to cool down. It's not usually serious if you cool down within 30 minutes, but if untreated, it can develop into heatstroke, according to the NHS. Signs of heat exhaustion include: Tiredness or weakness Dizziness or feeling faint Headache Muscle cramps Nausea or vomiting Heavy sweating Strong thirst Heatstroke is more serious and occurs when the body's temperature rises to dangerous levels and can no longer cool itself. Symptoms include: Confusion or disorientation Loss of coordination Rapid heartbeat Fast breathing or shortness of breath Hot, dry skin (not sweating) Seizures Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Call 999 immediately and try to cool the person down while waiting for help. Who is most at risk during hot weather? While anyone can feel unwell in the heat, some people are more vulnerable. These include:
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
How do heat and cold health alerts work?
The first yellow heat health alerts of 2025 have been alerts mean the weather poses a greater risk to vulnerable people, which may place additional pressure on health services. How does the weather health alert system work? The weather alert service warns the public in England when high or low temperatures could damage their system is run by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met includes both heat health and cold health alertsHeat health alerts are issued between 1 June and 30 September, and cold health alerts are published between 1 November and 30 March. As well as warning the public, the system sends guidance directly to NHS England, the government and healthcare professionals during periods of adverse are categorised according to severity and include:headline weather conditions expected in the coming daysdetails of how weather conditions will affect each regionlinks to additional information, advice and guidanceThe system was designed to help reduce illness and deaths during periods of extreme current weather-health alertsCheck the UK weather warnings in placeWhen is a heatwave 'really' a heatwave? What do the alert levels mean? The level of alert is based on Met Office forecasts and are four levels ranging from green (least severe) to red (most severe):GreenGreen is the normal level, when advice is given on how people should prepare to respond if temperatures rise or alerts are issued during periods of hot or cold weather that are only likely to affect those who are particularly vulnerable, for example the elderly, or those with existing health alerts are issued in situations that could potentially put the whole population at risk. The NHS may see increased demand on GPs and ambulances, for disruption is also red alert is the most is issued in situations when hot or cold weather would be a significant risk to life, even for the healthy population, and could lead to failures of critical national infrastructure, such as power outages or roads and rail lines being closed. What does hot weather do to the body? As the body gets hotter, blood vessels open up. This leads to lower blood pressure, and makes the heart work harder to push the blood around the can cause mild symptoms such as an itchy heat rash or swollen feet, as blood vessels become leaky. At the same time, sweating leads to the loss of fluids and salt and, crucially, the balance between them in the body combined with the lowered blood pressure, can lead to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Symptoms include:dizzinessnauseafaintingconfusionmuscle crampsheadachesheavy sweatingtirednessIf blood pressure drops too far, the risk of heart attacks does hot weather do to the body?What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?How to sleep in hot weather
