The Met Office said a heatwave is very likely this week and temperatures could rise into the low to mid 30s. The UKHSA notice is in effect from midday on Tuesday 9 August until 6pm on Saturday 13 August. Experts advise people to watch out for the elderly or those with existing health conditions and young children. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “Temperatures will be very hot again this week, particularly in the south and central parts of the country. “We want everyone to enjoy the warm weather safely when it arrives, but remember that heat can have a quick impact on health. It is important to ensure that the people who are most vulnerable – older people who live alone and people with underlying conditions – are prepared to deal with the heat. “The most important advice is to make sure they stay hydrated, keep cool and take steps to prevent their homes from overheating.” The latest heatwave will hit the UK after months of low rainfall, which has left the countryside and urban parks and gardens parched. Households in some areas are advised not to light fires or barbecue. Some water companies have already announced pipe bans, and others have warned they may have to follow suit. It follows the driest eight months from November to June since 1976 and the driest July on record for parts of southern and eastern England. Heatwave thresholds are reached at different temperatures in different regions of the country. The Met Office recently raised the temperatures to be reached for an official heatwave for eight English counties to reflect warming conditions in the UK. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Tony Wardle said: “Heatwave criteria look likely to be met for large areas of the UK later this week, with the hottest areas expected in central and southern England and Wales on Friday and Saturday. “Temperatures could peak at 35C or even 36C on Saturday. “Elsewhere we will see temperatures widely in the high 20s and low 30s later this week as temperatures rise day by day due to an area of high pressure stretching across much of the UK. “Coupled with high temperatures during the day, warm nights will continue, with the mercury only expected to drop into the low 20s for some areas in the south.” Scientists warn that the likelihood of droughts is increasing due to climate change, due to greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels and other human activities. The climate crisis is also making heatwaves more intense, frequent and likely – with last month’s record temperatures at least 10 times more likely due to global warming and “virtually impossible” without it, research has found. Additional report from PA
