The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for heat this weekend for large parts of Wales. The forecasting service says some "exceptionally high temperatures" are possible during Sunday and could lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.
Temperatures could be in excess of 35C in the southeast, and more widely around 32C within the warning area. These high temperatures could extend into the early part of next week and an extension of the warning will be considered in the coming days.
Wales experienced its hottest day of the year on Monday (July 11) when temperatures hit 28.6C at Hawarden Airport, and while there will be a slight dip in temperatures during the middle of this week, they are expected to soar again by the weekend.
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Some forecasters say that the highest ever temperature ever recorded in the UK - 38.7C on July 25, 2019 - could be beaten.
The amber weather warning from the Met Office says: "Temperatures will build again later this week and over the coming weekend, likely peaking on Sunday and Monday. Some exceptionally high temperatures are possible and cumulative effects of warm nights and hot days are expected to bring widespread impacts to people and infrastructure.
"This period of hot weather is expected to continue into the early part of next week, hence an update extending this warning into Monday is likely."
The warning for Wales covers:
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Denbighshire
- Flintshire
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Wrexham
The amber warning comes at the end of a week when the UK will see widely-above average temperatures, with a Level 3 UK Health Security Agency Heat Health Alert in place for southeastern areas this week, and a Level 2 alert for much of the rest of England.
Heatwave criteria, when specific temperature thresholds must be exceeded three days running, will be met for many locations in southern and central England and Wales early this week. Temperatures on Tuesday could peak at 33C in the southeast, although there will be more in the way of clouds. Cooler conditions will have spread to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England along with some showers in the northwest.
Warm summer conditions will remain in place for much of the week for the majority of England and Wales, albeit slightly less hot on Wednesday and Thursday when temperatures are more likely to peak in the high 20s Celsius.
A persistent area of high pressure centred over the southern half of the UK is responsible for this week’s warm spell, bringing largely dry and clear weather for the week, with little cooling into the evenings. During the weekend, a developing southerly flow will allow very high temperatures currently building over the continent to spread northwards to the UK.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Sherwin said: “Today and tomorrow (Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th), temperatures are likely to peak at 33C in the southeast, with warm weather likely to continue throughout this week and it looks likely to ramp up late this week and into early next week.
“From Sunday and into Monday, temperatures are likely to be in excess of 35C in the southeast, although the details still remain uncertain. Elsewhere, temperatures could be fairly widely above 32C in England and Wales, and in the mid-to-high 20s Celsius further north.”
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “Heat-health alerts have now been issued to the majority of the country, with temperatures set to remain consistently high throughout the duration of this week.
“Most of us can enjoy the hot weather when it arrives, but it is important to keep yourself hydrated and to find shade where possible when UV rays are strongest, between 11am and 3pm.
“If you have vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, make sure they are aware of how they can keep themselves protected from the warm weather.’’
Government advice is that 999 services should be used in emergencies only; seek advice from 111 if you need non-emergency health advice.
The Welsh Ambulance Service is urging the public to take precautions ahead of the hot weather forecast for this week. They say that warm weather generates an increase in calls to people with breathing difficulties, and with 999 demand already high, and Covid-19 infections continuing to rise, the Trust is asking the public to take extra precautions to reduce pressure on the service.
There were almost 2,000 calls to 999 on Sunday, which works out at around one call every minute.
Lee Brooks, the Trust’s Executive Director of Operations, said: “ We expect demand to remain high with the increase in temperature, so we need the public’s help to ensure that the pressures we face are not exacerbated by the weather. Hot weather means your body has to work harder to keep its core temperature to normal levels, and this puts extra strain on your heart, lungs and kidneys. This means that you can be at greater risk if you have a pre-existing heart or respiratory condition, like asthma or angina.
“It’s really important to keep cool and stay hydrated, and if you’re out and about, please look after yourself and those with you.
“If you do fall victim to the sun, take one of our NHS 111 Wales symptom checkers for bites and stings, breathing difficulties, hay fever and sunburn – it’ll help you determine the best course of action.”
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