Temperatures across England are expected to soar by 10C over the coming days, placing a lot of pressure on travel and hospital services.
On average, the mercury will remain in the mid-20s before the weekend kicks off, by which point it will quickly rise to around 35C. Many public services across the UK are already under pressure from the hot weather, with the NHS facing a "surge" in demand from heat-related admissions.
It comes after the Met Office issued an "amber" extreme heat warning for most of England and Wales which will remain in place from Sunday until Tuesday. Forecasters have predicted that Tuesday will be the hottest day and may even break the top UK record temperature of 38.7C.
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The weather warning also states that high temperatures could lead to population-wide health problems as well as disruptions to travel. Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse said the government is preparing for a "surge in demand on the NHS and other public services emanating from the heatwave.
Mr Malthouse told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "The key thing we can do is prepare the Government services for what may be a surge in demand – not least the health service and elsewhere – but also critically communicate that the first line of defence is actually individual behavioural change.
"“People need to take care, do all the stuff they would do when it is very hot – wear a hat, drink water – but critically also (with) the most vulnerable groups – the elderly, those with cardiovascular problems and the very young – that people look out for them and take care.”
And he warned: “The current forecast is that we will be in the mid to high-30s but there is a smaller possibility that we could exceed that and possibly hit 40C which would be an all-time record.”
Here's a breakdown of how different travel services will be affected by the heatwave.
Train delays
Avanti West Coast has warned commuters that plan to use services between London Euston and Scotland should plan ahead as the heat could cause delays on rail lines. The operator said that weekend services may be cancelled at short notice while journeys on Monday and Tuesday will be subjected to amended timetables.
Network Rail has also warned that the hot weather can cause delays by damaging train safety equipment, forcing rail lines to temporarily close. Furthermore, the heat can potentially damage overhead power lines, forcing trains to travel more slowly, according to the railway company.
Road accidents
North West Ambulance Service has extended a warning to motorists on the effects heat can have on tyre pressure. Posting on Twitter, it said: "Did you know extreme heat can causes over-inflation of tyres as the rubber generates more friction and heat on the hot roads? Over-inflated tyres are dangerous as they could lead to tyre blowouts which can cause road traffic accidents."
Before heading out on a journey during the heatwave, the AA recommends drivers to check if their tyres are under or over-inflated. To do this, you should:
- Remove the valve cap from one tyre.
- Press the pressure gauge onto the valve stem until the hissing sound stops and the gauge gives a reading.
- Write down the reading for the tyre.
- Repeat for the other tyres.
To see if your vehicle's tyres are at the correct pressure, you should check your vehicle handbook which will tell you what PSI they should be.
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