Peak temperatures of 34C are forecast as another heatwave approaches the UK, with the Met Office predicting the hottest conditions in the south-east of England next Thursday or Friday. The forecaster said the prolonged spell of hot weather would last around a week, though it is not expected to be as hot and humid as the heatwave that struck in June.
Forecast
Temperatures in the south of England could reach 28C on Saturday, with London potentially seeing that figure, according to the Met Office. On Sunday, the south-east is forecast to rise to 29C, before approaching the low 30s early next week and peaking at 34C. Becky Mitchell, a Met Office meteorologist, 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.” The forecaster added that by comparison to the June heatwave, this spell would be less hot and humid but still prolonged.
Health warnings
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts across several English regions, in force from midday on 4 July until 8pm on 11 July. The alerts cover the east of England, East Midlands, West Midlands, south-west England, London and the south-east. No heat health warnings are in place for Wales. The agency said the high temperatures within the warning area were likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services, but warned of a “greater risk to life for vulnerable people”.
Certain groups are at particular risk. The UKHSA has identified older adults aged 65 and over, babies and children aged five and under, people with underlying health conditions such as heart problems, breathing difficulties, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s, mobility issues or mental health conditions, and those taking medications that affect heat sensitivity. Also vulnerable are pregnant women, people on low incomes, those experiencing homelessness, individuals living alone, people with drug or alcohol dependence, and anyone working or spending significant time outdoors in physically demanding roles. The agency highlighted that many UK homes are at risk of overheating; research suggests up to 92% of homes could be affected by 2050.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, a rapid or weak pulse, dizziness, nausea and muscle cramps. Moving to a cool place, lying down and drinking water usually helps. Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency characterised by a very high body temperature, confusion, slurred speech, loss of consciousness and a lack of sweating despite the heat. The public should call 999 immediately if these symptoms appear.
The UKHSA also warned of an increase in water-related incidents, with a raised risk of cold water shock and drowning. Previous heatwaves have seen multiple deaths in water-related incidents, the agency noted.
Hosepipe ban
Southern Water has announced a hosepipe ban for customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, effective from 12.01am on 10 July. The ban stops customers using a hosepipe for non-essential activities, including watering gardens (including via sprinkler systems), filling paddling pools, hot tubs, swimming pools, ponds or fountains, and washing cars, patios or windows. The company said the ban was a response to the warmest spring on record and a record-breaking heatwave, which had left river levels critically low. The River Test is down 25% on normal levels. A hosepipe can use 1,000 litres of water per hour, equivalent to one person’s weekly water usage. Customers on the Priority Services Register or WaterSure scheme, including Blue Badge holders and those with health or mobility needs, are exempt from the ban.
The UK’s water infrastructure is under strain. Southern Water has focused on leakage reduction, cutting leaks by almost a quarter in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and fixing 2,840 leaks since January, saving approximately 27 million litres per day. However, England has not built a new reservoir in 30 years, and aging Victorian-era pipes lose billions of litres of water daily. The public significantly underestimates their water usage, believing they use around 30 litres per day when the actual average is about 140 litres.
The June heatwave that preceded this latest spell saw the UK set a provisional June temperature record of 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, beating the previous record of 35.6C from 1976 by more than 2C. That heatwave prompted the Met Office to issue a rare red extreme heat warning for three consecutive days, the first time since such warnings were established in 2021. The frequency and intensity of heatwaves has increased globally, and Met Office projections indicate that hot spells will become more frequent in the UK’s future climate, particularly in the south-east.