UKHSA upgrades heat health alert to AMBER for most of England and warns of ‘significant’ risks to the elderly and vulnerable as heatwave brings 33C (91F) heat this week

A six-day ‘amber’ heat health alert was today imposed for most of England amid concerns for the elderly and vulnerable with 33C (91F) temperatures on the way.

Britain is now in the grip of an official heatwave just as the schools go back following the summer holidays, with the mercury set to peak tomorrow and on Thursday.

And the UK Health Security Agency has now upgraded its ‘yellow’ heat health alert to ‘amber’ to highlight the increased risks to those most vulnerable to hot weather.

Officials warned of ‘significant’ impacts across health and social care including an ‘observed increase in mortality’ in the 65+ age group and people with health issues.

The amber alert across the whole of England apart from the North East runs between 12pm today and 9pm on Sunday. The North East is under a yellow alert. The UK is also now dealing with a Saharan dust cloud leaving deposits on cars and windows.

The Met Office expects the highest temperature of the year so far of 32.2C (90.0F) on both June 10 and 25 could be exceeded this week, most likely in the South East.

Its chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said today: ‘High pressure is situated to the South East of the UK, which is bringing more settled conditions and temperatures well above average for the time of year.

‘While the highest temperatures are expected in the south, heatwave conditions are likely across much of England and Wales especially, with parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland also likely to see some unseasonably high temperatures.

‘An active tropical cyclone season in the North Atlantic has helped to amplify the pattern across the North Atlantic, pushing the jet stream well to the north of the UK, allowing some very warm air to be drawn north.

‘It’s a marked contrast to the much of meteorological summer, when the UK was on the northern side of the jet stream with cooler air and more unsettled weather.’

Yesterday’s warmest spot in England was Heathrow Airport, at 30C (86F), beating the 29C (84F) in Ibiza. Wales was slightly hotter still, with Gogerddan and Whitechurch, both in Dyfed, reaching 30.1C (86.2F).

If this week’s temperatures hit a new 2023 high, it would be the first time since 2016 – and before that the 1950s – that the UK’s warmest day of the year has happened in September.

Forecasters said the exception to the very hot conditions this week will be the far north and west of Scotland, which will see some periods of showery rain at times, while some North Sea coasts could see some low cloud.

Isolated thundery showers crossing areas to the west are expected from today, although forecasters said this was unlikely to be very widespread.

The Met Office said official heatwaves could be ‘observed from as early as today in some spots’, but it will remain ‘uncomfortably warm overnight’.

There is also a chance of tropical nights, which is when overnight temperatures remain above 20C (68F).

The highest overnight minimum temperature for September on record is 21.7C (71.1F), and the Met Office said this record could be threatened tomorrow and on Thursday night.

Meanwhile the heat health alert came with a warning for Britons to help protect the vulnerable people they know including older people, those with underlying conditions and those who live alone, who may need support to keep cool and hydrated.

There was also a warning to pet owners.

Dr Justine Shotton, senior vice president or the British Veterinary Association, said: ‘We may be past the peak summer months but it’s important to remember that this September sun and heat is also dangerous for animals.

‘Pets can be extremely susceptible to heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke, and can also suffer sunburn, heart conditions and breathing difficulties, many of which can sadly be fatal.

‘Make sure all pets have access to fresh drinking water, good ventilation and shade from direct sunlight at all times.’

The Met Office confirmed it has not issued an extreme heat warning, which covers the UK and aligns with the wider national severe weather warning service.

Forecasters said that while the heat is expected to peak tomorrow and on Thursday, temperatures and humidity are set to remain high for many in the South into the weekend.

There is also an ‘increasing chance of some intense thundery downpours, most likely in the west’, according to the Met Office.

Its deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates said: ‘A cold front will begin to influence things from the northwest towards the weekend, though it’ll remain very warm or hot in the south.

‘There’s a chance the thunderstorm risk to western areas from Friday onwards may require a warning response, with some potentially impactful downpours, though exact details on the likely positioning of these downpours are still being determined.’

Senior meteorologist Rachel Ayers said heatwave criteria will likely be met in a number of places over the next couple of days, and for much of the UK it will feel ‘very warm to hot’.

Ms Ayers added: ‘On Tuesday, there will be some patchy cloud for the far southwest and later Northern Ireland with a risk of the odd shower/isolated thunderstorm.

‘Elsewhere after any low cloud, mist and fog lifts and clears it will be dry with plenty of sunshine. It will be cloudier in the far north of Scotland with the odd spot of rain and drizzle, though drier than recent days.

‘Temperatures will vary between 27C to 30C in central and southern areas, with an isolated 31C possible inland.

‘On Wednesday, mist and fog will clear once again with low cloud burning back to the coast through the morning, again leaving a very warm or hot day.

‘Again some patchy cloud in the far west and Northern Ireland. A chance of showers moving into the South West during the evening, risk of an isolated thunderstorm. Temperatures will climb to 32C in central and south-east England.

‘Thursday, another fine day after early mist and fog clears. Again cloudier for North Sea coasts, and inland at first, but cloud burning back to the coasts.

‘Sunshine will be more hazy in the west than previous days. Overnight showers will push north in the west with some outbreaks of rain in the far north west of Scotland.

‘Temperatures will climb to 32C in central and South East England.

‘On Friday, most places will remain fine and dry with sunny spells. Areas of cloud will limit sunshine in places, with a small chance of an isolated shower or thunderstorm, predominantly in the west.

‘Patchy rain is likely, at least for a time in the far north west, perhaps with brighter, drier, fresher conditions here later. Mainly light winds, though winds increasing in the north west.

‘Continuing very warm or hot for many and likely feeling humid, but with low cloud and lower temperatures around some coasts, with the potential for cooler air to move into some northern parts too. Temperatures climbing to 31C in central and South East England.’