The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat health alert in London and most of southern England this week as temperatures are expected once again to rise above 30C.
The amber heat health alert is the second-highest used by the agency, and is in place from 9am on Monday, August 3, until 9am on Wednesday, August 5.
Temperatures exceeded 30C on Sunday and on Monday, they are anticipated to reach around 33C, according to BBC Weather. The peak will reduce to 28C on Tuesday and remain in the mid to late twenties throughout the week.
The UKHSA states: “Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.
“There may also be impacts on younger age groups, likely increased demand on all health and social care services. Internal temperatures in care settings, hospitals and care homes, may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment.”
In addition, heat may affect the ability of the workforce to deliver core services, the agency warns.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Moran said: "Temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius in the southeast of England on Sunday afternoon, making it the 33rd time that has happened so far this year.
"And it's only set to get hotter as we go into the new working week. Low pressure currently sits towards the west of the UK but it's ahead of the cold front that we're going to start to really import some hot and very humid air as we move into Monday.
"Many parts of England and Wales will see plenty of sunshine and once again, the temperatures will rapidly rise in that strong August sunshine, so turning into an increasingly humid and very hot day in the southeast of England in particular, where temperatures may well approach the mid-thirties.
"The good news is if you don't like the heat and humidity, it won't last overly long. By the middle part of the week, temperatures will be lowering and we'll see some much fresher air moving in from the Atlantic on Wednesday and Thursday, so temperatures returning close to average for the time of year."
