The Met Office has issued power cut warnings for 71 areas across the UK as amber weather warnings for extreme heat remain in place. The nation is forecast to experience record-breaking temperatures, which the Met Office warns will likely lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.
Heatwave Triggers Power Cut Risks
The forecaster stated that scorching conditions could cause heat-sensitive systems and equipment to break down, resulting in power cuts and the loss of other services to homes and businesses. The amber heat alert has been in place from Monday and lasts until the end of Tuesday for many areas, before expanding to other regions on Wednesday and Thursday.
A red extreme heat alert has been issued for certain areas alongside a red health warning by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This health alert is in place for the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and east of England, starting at 1am on Wednesday and lasting until 11pm on Thursday.
Preparation Advice from the Met Office
The Met Office advises: "People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items."
Full List of Affected Areas
East Midlands
- Derby
- Derbyshire
- Leicester
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Northamptonshire
- Nottingham
- Nottinghamshire
- Rutland
East of England
- Bedford
- Cambridgeshire
- Central Bedfordshire
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Luton
- Norfolk
- Peterborough
- Southend-on-Sea
- Suffolk
- Thurrock
London & South East England
- Bracknell Forest
- Brighton and Hove
- Buckinghamshire
- East Sussex
- Greater London
- Hampshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Medway
- Milton Keynes
- Oxfordshire
- Portsmouth
- Reading
- Slough
- Southampton
- Surrey
- West Berkshire
- West Sussex
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
South West England
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
- Bristol
- Devon
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
Wales
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
West Midlands
- Herefordshire
- Shropshire
- Staffordshire
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Telford and Wrekin
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands Conurbation
- Worcestershire
The UK is expected to reach record-breaking temperatures, and residents in the affected areas are urged to prepare for potential power disruptions.
