Latest news with #hightemperatures
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
An expert guide to getting to sleep during the heatwave
Britain is bracing for its fourth heatwave of the summer, with health alerts issued across the country as temperatures are forecast to reach 34C. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned of potentially fatal consequences, implementing heat health warnings for all of England. An amber alert, signifying significant impacts on health and social care, is in effect until Wednesday for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, and the South East. The rest of the nation remains under a yellow warning. The agency highlighted concerns over increased pressure on services and a potential rise in fatalities, particularly among individuals aged 65 and over or those with pre-existing health conditions. As everyone knows, sleeping in the heat can be tough. However, with these tried-and-tested tips, a practical round-up of things to do, and some cooling product picks, the experts at bed specialist Dreams have you backed… The right bedding The foundation of a cool night's sleep is choosing the right materials for your mattress and bedding… Experts at Dreams recommend switching to breathable, moisture-wicking bedding made with temperature-regulating technology. Indeed, temperature-control cooling bedding, mattresses and pillows deliver exceptional cooling comfort, suggests Hannah Hayden, junior buyer at Dreams. She says the combination of cooling internal fillings and a gel-infused foam provides an instant refreshing sensation. 'Helping you to drift off naturally.' 'These mattresses also include natural anti-bacterial protection to reduce allergies and prevent odours, ensuring your sleep environment stays fresh over time.' To complete your cooling sleep system, she suggests breathable cooling pillow protectors and mattress toppers. 'Both designed to enhance airflow and are moisture-wicking, for year-round comfort.' How to stay cool at night Simple strategies to help you beat the heat… 'Warmer weather can make quality sleep harder to achieve, as the room needs to be at around 16-18°C for optimum comfort and rest,' explains Dreams' resident sleep expert, Sammy Margo. 'Even slight temperature increases can disrupt this, so it's important to prioritise sleep hygiene,' highlights Margo. Here, she shares some smart tips to stay comfortable and well-rested throughout the summer… Sleep solo or adopt the starfish position: 'Sharing a bed can double the body heat, making it harder to stay cool during warmer nights.' 'One simple but effective solution is the Scandinavian sleep method, using two separate duvets, which allows each person to regulate their own temperature and reduce overheating,' suggests Margo. If possible, she says to also try spreading out. 'Ideally sleeping in a more open position, such as the starfish position, to allow maximum airflow around your body.' Freeze your bedding: 'Place your pillowcase, or even your top sheet, in the freezer for a few minutes before bedtime – the chill won't last all night, but it's a great way to ease into sleep.' 'For an extra cooling boost, try popping your pyjamas or an eye mask in the freezer too!' Or, for a longer-lasting cool that doesn't require any prep, she suggests trying a memory foam ice pillow, which are designed to stay refreshingly cool through the night, without needing to be frozen. Chill your skincare: 'If you use beauty products such as facial sprays, toners, or moisturisers, consider storing them in the fridge,' says Margo. 'Applying chilled products to your skin may help soothe and refresh you, especially on hot and sticky nights. Plus, it can feel like a mini spa treatment before bed,' she adds. Block out heat during the day: 'Prevent your bedroom from turning into a greenhouse by blocking out direct sunlight during the day,' advises Margo. 'Use blackout curtains or blinds to help keep the heat at bay and reduce overall room temperature.' She continues. 'Keeping windows closed during the hottest parts of the day, and only opening them once the air cools in the evening, can also make a noticeable difference.' Take a lukewarm shower before bed: 'Not cold – lukewarm,' underlines Margo. 'While it might seem obvious to take a cold shower to cool down before bed, it's surprisingly not the most effective option. 'A lukewarm shower helps lower your core body temperature gradually when you step out of it, triggering your body's natural cooling process and promoting relaxation,' she explains. 'Which in turn may make it easier to fall asleep comfortably.' For more sleep-related tips and expert advice to help you get a good night's sleep in the heat, visit Dreams Sleep Matters Club.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Why residents of new build homes say they are far too hot - as Britain bakes in amber alert 34C heatwave
Residents in new build flats are complaining their homes are unbearably hot as they struggle with 35C temperatures while the UK battles its fourth heatwave. Sweltering conditions in high rises across London last year prompted residents of Leaside Lock, in east London, to place desperate signs in their windows reading 'DO NOT BUY THESE FLATS. TOO HOT'. And the problem only seems to have got worse. Homeowners living in new build flats in Tower Hamlets have described the conditions as 'unbearable' while at a block of flats in nearby Three Waters, residents have recorded temperatures reaching almost 30C. Sandra Monteiro, 41, told The Guardian that temperatures inside her 11th-floor home have not gone below 27C for the past two months. 'It feels like you're in a trap,' the SEND teacher said. The conditions, she added, had left her feeling 'out of breath' and 'exhausted', with it also causing her frequent headaches. While 21-year-old student Lucian Ho, who lives on one of the top floors of a 28-storey high rise, said he struggles to sleep because of the heat and his only source of relief is an open window offering little in the way of fresh air or a breeze. Community groups on social media have also become a hive of activity with residents in Greenwich desperately asking for tips to help them beat the heat. One local asked: 'Is anyone else struggling in their new build flat with the heat? I just moved into one recently and the heat is unbearable. Even with the windows opened and a fan. Any tips for coping in the summer living in a new build please?' And their neighbours were quick to offer suggestions including pulling down the blinds and buying air conditioning units. But others were just as frustrated, commenting under the original post that the flats are 'awful'. Talie Eid said: 'Honestly, they're awful. Never warm enough in winter (we don't have standard radiators) and too hot in summer. Keeping blinds/curtains closed during peak time does help a little. We ended up getting an air cooler as fans not enough.' While another said they had moved from a Victorian-era house to a new build and regretted the change, adding their new flat was affecting their mental health. They wrote: 'It's actually starting to affect my health and the health of my pets. I've always lived in a Victorian and made a big mistake moving into a new build. It's unbearable. I feel for everyone who is going through this. It's horrible. 'They build them quick. Charge high rent but don't build them properly with good ventilation. It's very frustrating.' Peter Veress suggested the only way to escape the heat was to splash the cash and invest in an air conditioning unit. He said: 'I was living in a flat a few years back, and in our living room in summer the temperature went up to 37 degrees even though curtains were always closed during the day. 'We bought an Aircon for around £300 and that was helpful when it was running, but as soon we switched off, you felt the heat. As others said, it's summer. Without an aircon in a flat you are cooked.' Another resident said that her and her family simply stopped cooking during the summer, preferring to eat rotisserie chicken and salad on the river bank than make their flat hotter by turning on the oven. But the problem isn't new and Londoners have been seeking advice and ways to mitigate the extreme temperatures inside their flats for a few years. A Reddit thread from 2023 saw one homeowner who had recently moved to their new build flat complain of only having two windows which only open 'a few inches'. The homeowner said their flat could easily reach 28.5C and even at 3am they had seen their thermostat jump up to 27C. In the post they wrote: 'I moved into a new built flat a few months ago and while everything was great at the beginning, I've currently run into a bit of an issue in this weather. 'Basically the flat has windows on only one side in two separate rooms (living room and bedroom) and as such there's little to no draft. The window in the bedroom only opens a few inches as well making it even worse. 'Currently, while it's a lovely 21 degrees outside here in London, my flat is at a less lovely 28.5 degrees. Even at night, at 3AM I checked the thermostat, the temperature was still 27 degrees. 'I haven't been able to sleep properly for over a week and last night I only slept an hour maybe. I just can't seem to sleep properly because of the heat. 'I've got a fan and an air cooler that I put water and ice blocks in so it fans cooler air around the room. Still, the temperature didn't drop below 27 degrees and I'm at my wits end. 'I can't install an air conditioner I think as there's no space on the outside of the building (and the housing association doesn't allow it) so I'm trying to figure out what to do or I'm going to have to crash on a friends couch for the next couple of days. 'Another issue that's adding to the misery is the fact that the flat backs out onto a busy railway and there are probably 50+ trains passing per hour from 4:30 AM until 1 AM. 'The windows are soundproofed well so the noise isn't a problem when I keep everything shut, but the moment I try and air out the heat, I'm greeted with constant noise that a normal human being wouldn't be able to sleep through.' Lorraine Thomas, director of property company View From My Window, explained that the flats were designed with energy efficiency in mind. With extra insulation and thick windows, the flats are warm in the winter and many residents won't even need to put their heating on. But during the summer the same insulation causes the flats to heat up to extreme levels. She told the Daily Mail: 'Windows were put in these flats to provide natural daylight but what's happened is a conservatory effect where it's hotter in summer and colder in winter. 'The size of windows were designed to save on bills but now they are too hot.' She added that fire resistant insulation has added extra layers to buildings already quite energy efficient and said the more flats piled in to blocks, the hotter each home will be. 'Before it wasn't so much of an issue but with new fire safety insulation that's resistant, it's added extra heat.' The building expert also attributed London's dense population to hotter flats, explaining that many of the high rises built now are close to roads, bus routes, train lines and commercial buildings with lots of traffic and footfall and limited green spaces. Ms Thomas added: 'Dense population and area, there's nothing sparse and the overcrowding of blocks with too many flats - it all helps to capture the heat.' The company owner explained that the only way for homeowners to cool off was to invest in air conditioning, explaining that new build windows are designed with health and safety in mind and don't open very far limiting through drafts. 'More and more people will have to get air conditioning because opening windows just doesn't do enough to help,' she said. And it seems Londoners are way ahead of Ms Thomas as recent data from Checkatrade has revealed that demand for air conditioning units has increased by a quarter. Interest in installation for units has risen by 23 per cent on last year as the heatwave pushes homeowners to consider more ways of keeping cool this summer. It comes as parts of Britain are set to hit 34C with health alerts in force amid water shortages in England. The country's fourth heatwave of the summer will be at its peak today, with Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and the outskirts of London set to see the highest temperatures. An amber health alert came into force at 9am for the Midlands, South East, East of England, and London. There are yellow alerts in place across the rest of England. Today will be the fourteenth day that the mercury has risen past the 30C mark, with the heatwave set to continue for the rest of this week. Temperatures are expected to hit 31C on Friday.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Relief from sweltering conditions expected in parts of Canada after days of heat
People make their way through downtown Ottawa on Monday, July 28, 2025, while temperatures hit 33 degrees. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Sweltering heat is expected to continue in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces today, but relief is on the way for some. A multi-day heat wave should end today in southern British Columbia, where warnings covered most of Vancouver Island and stretched into North Thompson and South Okanagan. Hot conditions will continue for a while longer in southern Ontario, stretching north past Lake Huron and Georgian Bay and east through southern Quebec. The weather agency says cooler temperatures are expected to sweep through the region this evening, providing relief from the 30 C temperatures and near 40 humidex values. In the Maritimes, similar temperatures are expected to remain through to Wednesday, while parts of Newfoundland will see similar conditions breaking on Thursday or Friday. Environment Canada advises people to limit the amount of time they spend outdoors and to monitor for signs of heat exhaustion in these conditions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2025.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Amber health warnings in place as heatwave temperatures set to hit 34C
Health alerts have come into force around the country as temperatures could hit 34C during the fourth heatwave of the summer. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned of possible deadly effects as it issued heat health warnings for all of England. Amber warnings are in place for the East Midlands, West Midlands, east of England, London and the South East until Wednesday, with yellow warnings in place for the remainder of the country. Southern areas including Berkshire, Oxfordshire and outskirts of London such as Heathrow may reach 34C. The agency has warned of significant impacts across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. People are recommended to keep their homes cool, wear appropriate outdoor clothing and keep out of the sun during the midday heat and know the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Dr Paul Coleman, a consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: 'Temperatures are forecast to rise above 30°C across central and southern parts of the country over the next few days, and generally hot weather is expected across most regions of England. 'These kind of temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population – particularly in those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions – so it is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.' Wednesday could bring 33C to 34C heat to eastern England including Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and East Anglia, but temperatures should begin cooling by Thursday, with highs of 29C to 30C expected in London and East Anglia. Monday's highest temperature was 31.9C at Heathrow. Seasonal averages are generally between 18C and 22C in Britain, and go up to 23C for London. Tom Crabtree, the Met Office 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.' 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, where temperatures are typically higher. Wales may see 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 2025 stands at 35.8C recorded in Faversham, Kent, on July 1. On Tuesday, officials warned that England is 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 – has met as five areas of the country remain in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status. England is seeing widespread environmental and agricultural impacts from the lack of water, which is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wetlands and river wildlife, and increasing wildfires, the group said. In 2023, the cost of farm fires in the UK increased by 37% to an estimated £110.3 million, according to the National Farmer's Union (NFU) Mutual's latest data. Rachel Hallos, vice-president of the National Farmers' Union, said: 'Farmers are on the front line of this crisis, but we can't tackle this alone. 'It's vital that Government and fire services work with us on prevention, education and response and urgently review whether some changes in land management – particularly in the uplands – could be increasing wildfire risk as hotter, drier summers become more frequent. 'We're urging everyone enjoying the countryside this summer to play their part and be fire-aware, so these shared spaces remain safe and accessible for all: follow the Countryside Code, avoid open fires and report any signs of fire immediately. 'Protecting our farmland means protecting our food, our environment and our rural way of life.'
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Amber health warnings in place as heatwave temperatures set to hit 34C
Health alerts have come into force around the country as temperatures could hit 34C during the fourth heatwave of the summer. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned of possible deadly effects as it issued heat health warnings for all of England. Amber warnings are in place for the East Midlands, West Midlands, east of England, London and the South East until Wednesday, with yellow warnings in place for the remainder of the country. Southern areas including Berkshire, Oxfordshire and outskirts of London such as Heathrow may reach 34C. The agency has warned of significant impacts across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. People are recommended to keep their homes cool, wear appropriate outdoor clothing and keep out of the sun during the midday heat and know the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Dr Paul Coleman, a consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: 'Temperatures are forecast to rise above 30°C across central and southern parts of the country over the next few days, and generally hot weather is expected across most regions of England. 'These kind of temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population – particularly in those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions – so it is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.' Wednesday could bring 33C to 34C heat to eastern England including Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and East Anglia, but temperatures should begin cooling by Thursday, with highs of 29C to 30C expected in London and East Anglia. Monday's highest temperature was 31.9C at Heathrow. Seasonal averages are generally between 18C and 22C in Britain, and go up to 23C for London. Tom Crabtree, the Met Office 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.' 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, where temperatures are typically higher. Wales may see 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 2025 stands at 35.8C recorded in Faversham, Kent, on July 1. On Tuesday, officials warned that England is 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 – has met as five areas of the country remain in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status. England is seeing widespread environmental and agricultural impacts from the lack of water, which is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wetlands and river wildlife, and increasing wildfires, the group said.
