TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Kingdom (UK) is bracing for one of its most extreme heatwaves on record, with temperatures forecast to exceed 35 degrees Celsius and potentially reach 40C later this week, prompting rare red heat warnings across parts of England and Wales.
The Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have issued red warnings covering London, the Midlands, south-east Wales, and southern England from Wednesday through Thursday, warning of serious health risks, infrastructure disruption, and potential danger to life.
Forecasters expect Tuesday to become the hottest June day ever recorded in the UK, surpassing the current June record of 35.6C set in 1976. Temperatures are forecast to climb to between 36C and 37C across parts of southern and eastern England before rising further on Wednesday and Thursday.
The BBC Weather service reported that some areas could approach 40C, placing the UK's all-time temperature record of 40.3C, set in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, during the historic July 2022 heatwave, under threat.
The Met Office said the combination of extreme temperatures and high humidity would make conditions particularly dangerous. High humidity reduces the body's ability to cool itself through sweating, increasing the risk of heat stress and heatstroke, especially among vulnerable groups such as older people, young children, and those with underlying health conditions.
Red weather warnings are rarely issued and are reserved for exceptional circumstances. The last red warning for extreme heat was issued during the record-breaking heatwave of July 2022.
Alongside the weather alerts, UKHSA has issued red heat-health warnings for large parts of England, only the second time such warnings have been activated for heat-related conditions. Health officials warned that severe impacts could be felt across healthcare and social care services, with increased risks extending across the wider population.
"It is vitally important that people understand the risk posed by high temperatures like these," UKHSA official Dr Agostinho Sousa said, urging residents to take precautions and check on vulnerable relatives, friends, and neighbors.
As reported by the BBC, overnight temperatures are also expected to remain unusually high, with some areas forecast to experience so-called tropical nights where temperatures fail to drop below 21C or 22C. Such conditions can prevent the body from recovering from daytime heat and increase health risks.
The approaching heatwave has already prompted preparations across the country. Several schools have announced plans to close early or relax uniform requirements, while some have opted to shut entirely during the hottest days of the week.
Transport operators have also warned of disruptions. National Rail advised passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary during the peak of the heatwave, while Transport for London said high temperatures could affect Tube, rail, and Overground services. Road authorities are preparing for softened road surfaces and increased vehicle breakdowns caused by extreme heat.
Water companies including South East Water and Anglian Water have urged customers to conserve water as demand surges during the hot weather.
The National Fire Chiefs Council also warned of heightened wildfire risks and urged the public to exercise caution around open spaces and waterways following several water-related deaths during a previous heatwave earlier this year.
The extreme conditions are part of a broader heatwave affecting much of western and central Europe. France has issued red heat alerts across more than half of its regions, while authorities elsewhere on the continent are dealing with the effects of prolonged high temperatures.
The current heatwave also comes 50 years after the UK's memorable summer of 1976, when parts of the country experienced more than two weeks of temperatures above 32.2C. Meteorologists say this week's event could challenge several long-standing temperature records and become one of the most significant June heatwaves in British history.
Read: Heat Wave Grips Europe, Triggering Alerts and Disruptions
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