UK Health Security Agency issues new heatwave warning

Amid one of the driest years on record, Britain is told to brace for further searing temperatures this week as the summer sees a second red flag raised over temperatures.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a new heatwave warning, with a level 3 alert now in place for southern and central England, and level 2 across the north until Sunday 14th August at the earliest. Level 4 is the most severe designation, and has already been used once in 2022. 

According to messaging, temperatures are likely to hit the low-to-mid 30s in areas with a level 3 alert in place, stopping short of July’s dramatic heatwave, which peaked above 40C in some parts of the country.

Last month was also the driest July in England since 1935, with many areas recording the driest on record, raising serious concerns about the potential for fires to break out this week. Last month saw a spate of blazes resulting in millions of pounds worth of damages as a result of the weather. The risk of severe fires breaking out for most of England and Wales is currently high, with a ‘severe’ level expected for large parts of England by the weekend. 

The Met Office has now increased the thresholds temperatures need to hit in order for conditions to be considered a heatwave. This is a result of weather becoming warmer in the UK overall. Outside of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are also expected to see thermometers surpassing average seasonal highs, with temperatures in the high-20s predicted for Friday, meeting heatwave criteria. 

A group of UK scientists recently called for heatwaves to be named as part of a warning system to protect the vulnerable. Last month, parts of London narrowly avoided power outages as a result of soaring temperatures. 

Image credit: Lucian Dachman