UK issues new 'extreme heat' warning for England and Wales

Golfers play on the green at Wimbledon Common, following a long period of hot weather and little rainfall, in London, Britain, August 9, 2022. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Britain's weather service on Tuesday issued an amber "Extreme Heat" warning for parts of England and Wales, with no respite in sight from hot dry conditions that have sparked fires, broken temperature records and strained the nation's infrastructure.

The amber warning — the second-most severe after red — will be in place from Thursday through to the end of Sunday and means that people vulnerable to extreme heat could face adverse health effects, the UK Met Office said.

People sit in the sun, surrounded by parched grass during a period of hot and dry weather, in London, Britain, August 9, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Temperatures are expected to peak at 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) on Friday and may hit 36C in some places on Saturday.

The warning follows the driest July for England since 1935, when temperatures rose above 40C for the first time, turning a renewed spotlight to the impacts of climate change.

Other European nations have also faced a scorching heatwave in recent weeks with temperatures often exceeding 40C.

Brown, fallen leaves are seen on the ground during a period of hot and dry weather, in London, Britain, August 9, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Britain, which is less used to such high temperatures, has struggled to cope.

July's heatwave caused power outages, damaged airport runways, buckled rail tracks and ignited dozens of blazes in London, where the fire brigade faced its busiest week since World War Two.

Britain's largest water company, Thames Water, which serves 15 million customers across London and south east England, said on Tuesday it was planning to announce temporary usage restrictions in the coming weeks due to the hot temperatures this week and long term forecasts of dry weather.

A person sits in the shade surrounded by parched grass during a period of hot and dry weather, in London, Britain, August 9, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Several other water companies have already imposed restrictions and supermarkets have limited sales of disposable BBQs that firefighters warn can set light to tinder-dry grass. Ambulance services have received hundreds of calls from patients facing breathing difficulties, dizziness and fainting.

The amber warning, which follows Britain's first-ever red "Extreme Heat" warning in July, covers much of the southern half of England and parts of eastern Wales.

Scientists have said the July heatwave was made at least 10 times more likely because of climate change.

People sit in the shade of a tree surrounded by parched grass during a period of hot and dry weather, in London, Britain, August 9, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; editing by William James)