The UK Health Security Agency has issued a level four heat health alert - the highest possible warning - for the first time ever. The alert for England follows the Met Office earlier today issuing its first-ever red level earning of extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday.
Temperatures could break UK records and head over 40C.
Red, or Level 4, means a national heatwave emergency is underway. This is reached when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system.
At this highest level, illness and death due to heat might occur not just among high-risk groups like the elderly and vulnerable, but among the fit and healthy as well.
Last summer saw heatwaves which were not as severe - and 3,000 people died in the UK.
The Met Office has warned that people’s lives could be at risk as it indicated it is likely that a new UK record temperature could be set early next week.
Meteorologists gave an 80% chance of the mercury topping the UK’s record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F) set in Cambridge in 2019, with the current heatwave set to peak on Tuesday.
There is a 50% chance of temperatures reaching 40C somewhere in the UK, likely along the A1 corridor, with the Met Office issuing its first ever red warning for extreme heat.
The UK Health Security Agency has increased its heat health warning from level three to level four – a “national emergency”.
Level four is reached “when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system… At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups,” it said.
It was understood that closing schools was not being discussed as part of the contingency measures during the heatwave.
Early next week, people should, if they are travelling, take water with them, Commons Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans has said.
His comments came as shadow health secretary Wes Streeting raised a point of order in the Commons, saying: “The Met Office has issued a red warning for the first time ever as a result of the heatwave that the country is likely to experience on Monday and Tuesday next week.
“I wonder if you have been given any notice from the Department of Health and Social Care of their intention to make a statement to this House about the health consequences for the public. Not least, given this red warning involves the warning there is very likely to be risk to life and of course the newspapers, the television screens, the airwaves are full of reports of overwhelmed ambulance services and accident emergency departments.
“Given the Secretary of State failed to answer my urgent question on Wednesday, I would have thought the invisible man might make an appearance today to give the public the advice and the reassurance that our public services and our emergency services will be able to cope in light of this emergency.”
Mr Evans said he has been given “no notification” there will be a statement in the Commons from DHSC or any other departments, adding: “It’s timely that he has made that point of order in order that people should take advice because this is unusual circumstances and people should, if they are travelling, take water with them.
“And indeed make sure that there’s plenty of ventilation and if they are feeling unwell, they should seek attention for that.”
Downing Street has not issued work from home guidance during the heatwave.
A No 10 spokesman said: “Different sectors and different professions may have different staffing requirements, it wouldn’t be for me to set out a broad policy for everybody, that would be a matter for individuals and their employers.”
Downing Street has said speed restrictions on rail lines may be required under contingency plans as temperatures soar next week.
A No 10 spokesman said discussions with sectors including the NHS will “continue to work closely with all of those sectors over today, through the weekend and into early next week”.
“Specialist teams from Network Rail and TfL (Transport for London) will continue to monitor the impact of high temperatures to try and make sure they can keep services running safely and reliably for customers,” he added.
“It may be the case that speed restrictions are likely to be put in place on some parts of the network next week to manage the hot weather and to avoid any potential damage.
“DfT (Department for Transport) are engaging with port operators and highways agencies, as well as the police, to make sure plans are in place particularly in places where you may see queuing.”
Penny Endersby, Met Office chief executive, said in a sombre video shared online: “The extreme heat that we’re forecasting right now is absolutely unprecedented.
“We’ve seen when climate change has driven such unprecedented severe weather events all around the world it can be difficult for people to make the best decisions in these situations because nothing in their life experience has led them to know what to expect.
“Here in the UK we’re used to treating a hot spell as a chance to go and play in the sun.
“This is not that sort of weather.
“Our lifestyles and our infrastructure are not adapted to what is coming.
“Please treat the warnings we are putting out as seriously as you would a red or amber warning from us for wind or snow and follow the advice.
“Stay out of the sun, keep your home cool, think about adjusting your plans for the warning period.”
The Met Office red warning, for Monday and Tuesday, covers an area from London up to Manchester, and up to the Vale of York.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “If people have vulnerable relatives or neighbours, now is the time to make sure they’re putting suitable measures in place to be able to cope with the heat because if the forecast is as we think it will be in the red warning area, then people’s lives are at risk.
“This is a very serious situation.”
He said there is an 80% chance of the all-time UK temperature record being broken, and a 50% chance of temperatures of 40C being reached somewhere in the UK.
“Most likely that would be within the red warning area for extreme heat,” said Mr Madge.
“Probably the most likely areas to look at would be north of London and up to Lincolnshire, inland.
“Somewhere like Peterborough, Grantham, Sandy, Stevenage, those sorts of areas, A1 corridor.”
He said that temperatures reaching 40C would be a “historic event”.
“If we get to 40C that’s a very iconic threshold and shows that climate change is with us now,” he said.
“This is made much more likely because of climate change.”
Mike Childs, head of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth, said: “Each year, the effects of climate breakdown are becoming more evident and more severe.
“Without meaningful Government intervention, millions of Brits, particularly older people and young children, will be at increasing risk from health-threatening heatwaves like the one we’re experiencing.”
A No 10 spokesman said railway speed restrictions may be needed on “some parts of the network next week to manage the hot weather and to avoid any potential damage”.
Downing Street said that that Cobra met on Thursday amid the heatwave, and discussions with sectors including the NHS will “continue to work closely with all of those sectors over today, through the weekend and into early next week”.
Meanwhile, motorists have been advised to try to make their journeys outside of the hottest periods of the day, particularly if they have older cars.
Sean Sidley, AA patrol of the year, said: “There are reports of road gritters being out this weekend to reduce the chances of our roads melting.
“If it does get sticky on the roads there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a jam with the mercury rising, so make sure you carry plenty of water – at least a litre per person – and sufficient fuel, or if you’re driving an electric vehicle (EV) – make sure you have plenty of charge so you can use the air-conditioning when needed.”
Tim Doran, from the RNLI Water Safety Team said the service was anticipating a “busy weekend” for its lifeboat crews and lifeguards.
“If you are planning on going to the beach, we would encourage you to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags,” he said.
