The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday, forecasting extreme temperatures that could reach 40°C in parts of England and Wales. The forecaster said temperatures will exceed 37°C in the shade and could rise to 38-40°C in some areas, accompanied by high humidity and very warm nights, making recovery difficult.
Red Heat Health Alert Issued for Six Regions
A rare red heat health alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for six regions in England: West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and East of England. The alert is in effect from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday. The Met Office had already issued an amber weather warning covering large areas of England and Wales from Monday to Thursday, including Merseyside and the north west.
Risk to Life and Substantial Changes Required
Forecasters warned that conditions will bring a risk to life and population-wide health impacts, no longer limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat. Substantial changes to working practices and daily routines will be required. Travel disruptions are expected, including delays on roads, road closures, and delays or cancellations to rail and air travel.
Dr Will Lang, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “We are forecasting extreme temperatures in the next few days, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday, when it looks like we’ll be seeing maximum temperatures into the high 30s. But also we are stressing very high overnight temperatures which will be very uncomfortable for vulnerable groups, and very humid conditions as well.”
Comparison to Previous Heatwaves
Dr Lang told the Press Association that the conditions would far exceed the heat seen in June in the past and were “a much bigger scale” than the heatwave the UK experienced at the end of May. He also noted that the extreme heat would be of greater longevity than the record heatwave in 2022, when temperatures climbed above 40°C for the first time in the UK for a “short, sharp” period. He said: “We’ve got several days into the mid to high 30s, and humidity is a lot higher, so it could be a lot more impactful, including for the general population, so we’re asking everyone to consider their behaviours and travel and how to keep cool in the high temperatures. These heatwaves are becoming more frequent and more severe due to the changing climate.”
Cause and Outlook
Scientists said the cause of the heatwave is similar to the “heat dome” seen last month, involving a high-pressure weather system stalling over a region and trapping heat. In its outlook for the north west this week, the Met Office said: “Staying very hot, with extreme heat at times in the south. High humidity will bring very warm, muggy nights. Largely dry and sunny, but increasingly cloudy with showers on Thursday.”
