Good Morning Britain weather presenter Laura Tobin has warned there will be fatalities this week as the weather continues to heat up. Temperatures are set to hit 33C today, Monday, and by the end of the week are set to challenge the record for the time of year which is almost 39C.
The Met Office has said the mercury in central, southern and eastern England will soar on Monday afternoon amid a heatwave blasting the nation. Parts of the country will be hotter than some of the world’s top beach destinations, including areas in Jamaica, the Maldives and the Bahamas, with the hot weather set to last until the weekend.
The UK’s record high for 2022 currently stands at 32.7C, recorded at Heathrow on June 17. Laura said: "There's a whole haul of people that this heat and humidity, that will last all week with really humid nights, it is not welcome news.
"And because of the heat, there will be fatalities. Particularly very old, very young, very vulnerable people. So the advice, of course is to avoid the midday sun."
Sje advised people to 'head out to get out to get some fresh air in the early morning or the late afternoon' to avoid opverheating.
Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst told the PA news agency: “For most of us it will be a dry and sunny day, well into the high 20s from the morning, with central, southern and eastern parts of England to possibly see maximum highs of 33C.
“So it’s very possible [Monday] will be the hottest day of the year so far, it will certainly be on par with the existing record, maybe more. It will also be very warm overnight going into Tuesday, remaining in the low 20s in cities, so many may experience an uncomfortable night.”
A heat-health alert has been issued for some parts of the UK this week, with those in affected areas advised to shade or cover windows and check on the vulnerable and the elderly. The hot spell looks set to subside later in the week, when a cold front is expected to start pushing in.
However, Mr Dewhurst said temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high 20s until the end of the week.
Dr Radhika Khosla of the University of Oxford, said: “The health implications of rising temperatures in the UK are serious.
“Important physiological changes occur in response to high temperatures including changes in our circulatory, nervous and respiratory systems.
“When these adaptive measures are not enough, the risk of cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular problems increases among older adults, young children, people with chronic conditions, athletes and outdoor workers.
“Severe heat disrupts sleep, impairs cognitive performance and is associated with increased risk of suicide or hospital admission for mental illness.”
Dr Vikki Thompson, climate scientist at the University of Bristol Cabot Institute for the Environment, said: “Heatwaves are one of the most deadly natural hazards, in the UK 3,000 deaths were linked to heatwaves in 2021.
“The health issues related to heat include direct effects, such as heat stroke and cardiovascular failure, and indirect effects including poorer mental health and an increase in accidents such as car crashes and drownings.”
Prof Hannah Cloke, of the University of Reading, said:“Despite the official warnings, some people still underestimate the effects of heat and don’t change their plans to take it into account.
“We need to consider how people react to the current warnings, and continue to improve them. A warning system that people ignore is next to useless.
“Thousands of people already die due to excess heat in the UK, and climate change will only make heatwaves more frequent and more extreme in the future. Let’s not wait for people to die before we take heatwaves seriously.”
