Heatwave to Bring 34C Peak to South East
Temperatures are set to soar up to 34C when the heatwave returns to bake parts of the UK next week. The Met Office said temperatures are forecast to rise to 29C on Sunday before heading into the low 30s next week, with a 34C peak on Thursday and Friday in the South East. It is expected to be a prolonged spell of hot weather in parts of the UK, but it will not be as hot and humid as last month's heatwave, the forecaster added.
Health Alerts Issued for Vulnerable People
Health officials fear rising temperatures could pose a greater risk to life for vulnerable people as a week-long warning comes into force. Yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), covering the East Midlands, east, south-east and south-west of England, including London, and the West Midlands, from midday on Saturday until 8pm on July 11. The UKHSA said minor impacts were likely across health and social care services in the warning area, potentially leading to increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life to the same group. It also warned of a potential increase in water-related incidents, including risks from cold water shock and drowning.
Hosepipe Ban to Start in Hampshire and Isle of Wight
The baking heat has led Southern Water to issue a hosepipe ban from 12.01 am on July 10 in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Southern Water says: “To protect local rivers, including the River Test and Itchen that supply most of your water, and to keep taps flowing, we need to introduce restrictions. We recognise that customers with medical needs may still need to use a hosepipe. Customers on our priority services register with medical or mobility needs, including blue badge holders and those on our WaterSure tariff, are exempt. Anything you can do to reduce or avoid hosepipe use would be greatly appreciated.”
North/South Split Expected
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: “We have got a heatwave on the way across parts of southern England and Wales, temperatures are already quite high across the South East today, we could get 28C in London. Elsewhere, it’s not as hot as we have got temperatures closer to average but they will climb as we go into next week. The northern areas of the country will be cloudier with spells of rain at times, so there’s a north/south split. There will be highs of 29C tomorrow in the south. At the start of next week we will see temperatures approach the low 30s. The peak of the heat appears to be Thursday or Friday, 34C in the South East. By comparison to the heatwave we saw in June, this heatwave won’t be as hot and humid, but it will be a prolonged spell of hot weather which lasts around a week.”
