Warning: Amber
To expect: Extreme heat
Affected areas: East Midlands, East of England, London and South East England, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber
Start time estimate: Thursday 9am
End time estimate: Thursday 11pm
The Met Office has announced an Amber extreme heat warning for East Midlands, East of England, London and South East England, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber across the UK for Thursday.
The warning is covering parts of East Midlands, East of England, London and South East England, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber. All local areas affected are listed below.
On Thursday between 9am and 11pm
The Amber warning for extreme heat was announced at 10:32am on Tuesday, August 11.
A Met Office forecast said: “Following a warm night, a spell of very hot weather will affect England on Thursday. The highest temperatures will be in parts of the east, southeast and the Midlands, where 37 or even 38 Celsius could be reached. This may lead to impacts on transport, infrastructure and health.”
What to expect
Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat; The wider population is likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat-related illnesses; Some changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required; Some heat sensitive systems and equipment may fail, with the potential for some power cuts and the loss of other services to some homes and businesses.; More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents; Some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays.
What should you do?
Keep yourself safe by following these simple steps to reduce the likelihood of the heat making you feel unwell; drink plenty of fluids, keep out of the sun and avoid any exercise between 11am-3pm when the sun is strongest and close curtains in rooms that face the sun. If you are going out take water with you, stay in the shade, wear sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat. Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary. If using public transport, there are many simple things you can do to keep yourself safe; carry water with you, take a small hand-held battery powered fan, if you feel unwell get off at next stop for some fresh air, dress in light fabrics in light colours to help stay cooler, keep an eye on fellow passengers for signs they may be struggling. Help to protect vulnerable people that you know including older people, those with underlying conditions and those who live alone; they may need support to keep cool and stay hydrated. If you are worried about your health, or that of somebody you know, ring NHS 111. Keep yourself safe whilst enjoying the water in this weather by following these simple steps: enter the water gradually, avoiding jumping or diving straight in, to reduce your risk of cold water shock, go to a lifeguarded beach or a supervised swimming area, and, if you, or anyone else, get into difficulty in the water, float on your back. People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items. Stay up to date with the weather forecast for your area and follow any advice from emergency services and local authorities. For further details see Met Office Warnings & Advice.
Full list of local regions affected
East Midlands
Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland
East of England
Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Suffolk, Thurrock
London and South East England
Bracknell Forest, Buckinghamshire, Greater London, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, Slough, Surrey, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham
West Midlands
Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire
Yorkshire and Humber
North Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire
What is an amber weather warning?
The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area.
A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property.
An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.
A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.
The Amber weather alert for extreme heat will remain in place until 11pm on Thursday.