UK hot weather: Britain’s mercury to soar as new heatwave alert system activated

A new alert system which has launched today will issue warnings when temperatures reach dangerous levels throughout the summer. It comes as the Met Office issue a warning that future heatwaves in the UK could be “more intense and last longer”. The Weather-Health Alerting system, which is run by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office, will send information and advice when severe heatwaves have been forecast in a bid to reduce deaths within at-risk groups.

The system will offer four different types of alerts, ranging from green which will indicate no risk to health to red, which will indicate a “significant risk to life for even the healthy population”.

Temperatures peaked last summer, with record-breaking weather leading to five “heat periods” across the UK.

Researchers have warned that England is “not ready” to respond to extreme heatwaves this summer and that there will be a “breakdown in public services” should the country experience high temperatures.

The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment – part of London’s LSE – said authorities are concerned that facilities are at a breaking point

Last July, the UK recorded a temperature above 40C for the first time ever, and with summer just weeks away, the weather already appears to be picking up.

This week will see highs of 22C in London, whilst next week will bring 23C temperatures.

The Grantham report, which makes several recommendations, coincides with the launch of a new high-temperature warning system by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The Heat-Health Alerting (HHA) service comprises yellow, amber and red responses which will focus on the “health impacts” that very high temperatures can have on the population, especially those that are vulnerable.

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Those participating in the Grantham Institute’s research, in association with the British Red Cross, said England is “not prepared to manage future extreme heat events, particularly if these were to occur more frequently at the same magnitude and duration”.

Candice Howarth, head of local climate action at the Grantham Institute, said the UK “does not have a history of climate adaptation to cope with extreme heat but this now must be at the top of the agenda for government, organisations, cities and the public”.

She added that ministers need to “consider impacts and responses beyond health” if England is to “avoid excess deaths, shocks to the economy and breakdown in public services in this and future summers”.

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