A new alert system launching today will issue warnings to people when temperatures reach dangerous levels during the summer, with the Met Office warning that future heatwaves 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'.
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Manchester's highest temperatures to date were recorded last summer, with the region seeing the record broken for two days running in July. The Met Office's weather station in Rochdale saw a maximum temperature of 34.5C on July 18, 2022.
The UK Health Security Agency said 2,803 people aged 65 and over died during five ‘heat periods’ across England last summer. It marked the highest number on record since 2004.
Alongside the public, the system will be used by the government, commissioners and health and social care professionals to prepare them for when a ‘breakdown in public services’ could be expected. It will issue forecasts for five days, six to 15 days, and 16 to 30 days ahead.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: "Last year saw record high temperatures across England and evidence shows that heatwaves are likely to occur more often, be more intense and last longer in the years and decades ahead.
"It is important we are able to quantify the likely impacts of these heatwaves before they arrive to prevent illness and reduce the number of deaths."
A government spokesperson said: "The government and emergency services are well prepared for any future heatwaves.
"Since last summer's hot weather, we have worked across government to identify and implement lessons.
"This included the publication of the UK Health Security Agency's Adverse Weather and Health Plan, which contains guidance on extreme heat and outlines how everyone can work together to respond to heatwaves."
The system replaces the Met Office’s Heat-Health Alerts and Cold Weather Alerts system, which ceased to operate from today (June 1). You can sign up for alerts here.
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