Almost 600 people are expected to die in the soaring heatwave temperatures.
The hot weather is expected to peak today – Saturday, June 21 – with temperatures of 34°C, below the June record of 35.6°C in 1976.
But people living in London and the West Midlands are most at risk of becoming seriously ill in the extreme heat.
More than 10,000 people died prematurely in summer heatwaves between 2020 and 2024, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The agency has issued amber heat-health alerts across the country, running until 9am on Monday.
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Temperatures in hospitals and care homes are also on the rise and may soon be above safe levels.
Where have amber heat health alerts been issued?
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued nine amber heat health alerts as temperatures peak today at 34°C.
They cover:
- North East
- North West
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- East Midlands
- West Midlands
- East of England
- London
- South East
- South West
Dr Agostinho Sousa said: ‘We have already seen warm weather across the week, and temperatures are set to increase in the coming days, exceeding 30°c in many areas.
‘Our findings show that heat can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions.
‘It is therefore important to check on friends, family and neighbours who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.’
(Picture: Alamy Live News.)
The London Fire Brigade has also now had to issue a wildfire warning for the capital, with the brigade urging Londoners to take steps to prevent the risk of wildfires spreading.
There’s already been a 15% increase in the number of incidents this year – more than 280 so far – including rescues from strong currents, mud and capsized boats.
Assistant commissioner Pam Oparaocha, said: ‘With warm weather and school holidays on the horizon, we want people, especially young people, to enjoy our waterways safely, and that starts with education.
‘It’s important to know the risks and to familiarise yourself with lifesaving equipment like throwlines, which are available along many of London’s waterways.’
How to stay cool
- Close windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
- Wear suitable clothing, seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly if going outside
- Stay out the sun between 11am and 3pm, the hottest time of the day
- Plan outdoor physical activities for cooler times of day like morning and evening
- Drink cold drinks – weird but true: milk might hydrate you better than water, Medichecks’ Dr Natasha Fernando told Metro
What do different colours of warnings mean?
The UKHSA uses four different colours to show how serious the threat from hot weather is: green, yellow, amber and red.
Which colour applies to a particular event depends on two things: its likelihood, and its impact.
For example, an incident with a likelihood of less than 30% and a ‘very low’ impact will be rated green, while an incident with a likelihood of more than 90% and a ‘low’ impact will be rated yellow.
An incident is rated amber if its impact is ‘medium’ and its likelihood is over 60%, or if its impact is ‘high’ and its likelihood is between 30% and 89%.
The only events rated red are those with a ‘high’ impact and a likelihood of 90% or more.
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