The Met Office has issued the first red alert for hot temperatures. This warns that there is a “very probable” threat to life.
Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said that the Met Office had just issued a red alert for extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday. This is the first such warning to be issued.
“The warning extends from London to Manchester, then to the Vale of York.”
“This could be a very serious situation.”
The Met Office advises people to ” Take action now to keep yourself safe and to avoid travelling whenever possible.
Forecasters predict that the mercury will surpass the UK’s record temperature, 38.7C in Cambridge in 2019, by 80 percent. The current heatwave is expected to peak on Tuesday.
According to Mr Madge, there’s a 50% chance that temperatures will reach 40C in the UK. This is most likely to be along the A1 corridor.
He said, “If we reach 40C, that’s an iconic threshold that shows that climate change has arrived now.”
Climate change makes it more likely.
Health warning: “National emergency”
The UK Health Security Agency has raised its heat warning level from level 3 to 4 – a “national emergency”.
The fourth level is when a heatwave has a severe or prolonged effect on the health and welfare system. It is said that illness and death can occur at this level among the healthy and fit, not only in high-risk populations.
Penny Endersby is the Met Office’s chief executive. She said in a sad video that “the extreme heat we are forecasting right now”
“We have seen how climate change has caused such severe weather events around the globe. It can be hard for people to make the right decisions in these situations because they don’t know what to expect.
“Here in the UK, we are used to seeing a hot spell of the sun as an opportunity to play in the sunshine. This isn’t the case.
“Our infrastructure and lifestyles are not ready for the changes that are coming.”
Please treat all warnings that we send out with the same seriousness as if you were receiving a red or amber alert from us about wind or snow. Follow the advice. Keep out of the sun and keep your home cool. You might consider changing your plans during the warning period.
“Substantial changes in working practices”
According to the Met Office’s website, “Substantial disruption” will affect travel and energy supplies. However, there could also be widespread damage or infrastructure.
According to the weather agency, people will have to make ” significant changes in their work practices and daily routines”.
During the heatwave, Downing Street did not issue work-from-home guidance.
A spokesperson for No 10 stated that “Different industries and different professions may require different staffing requirements. It wouldn’t be my job to establish a broad policy for everyone, that would be up to individuals and their employers.”
Britain will experience “delays and road closures” and delays in rail and air travel.
Motorists are advised to avoid the hottest hours of the day. This is especially important for older vehicles.
To stop roads melting, Gritters with Sand
Sean Sidley is the AA Patrol of the Year. He stated: “There are reports that road gritters were out (with sand), this weekend in order to reduce the chance of our roads melting.
“If the roads get sticky, it’s worse than getting stuck. So make sure to have enough water for everyone, at least one litre per person, and fuel. If you drive an electric vehicle (EV), make sure there is plenty of power so that you can turn on the air conditioner when you need it.
Rod Dennis, the spokesperson for RAC Breakdown, stated that “we anticipate there could around 15-20% more breakdowns Monday and Tuesday. This equates to over 1,000 additional people in need of help each day.”
A spokesperson for No 10 stated that railway speed restrictions could be necessary on “some sections of the network next week in order to manage the heat and avoid any potential damage.”
Network Rail’s Jake Kelly warned that journeys would take longer and may be delayed as speed restrictions were introduced to protect passengers and staff. He advised people to only travel on Monday and Tuesday.
According to the organisation, response teams will be deployed to minimize the heat impact where possible. However, passengers may experience disruption if the current forecasts are accurate.
Steel rails are able to absorb heat quickly and can be as high as 20 degrees above the ambient air temperature. Steel expands when it gets very hot and can bend, flex, and in some cases buckle.
Overhead electric lines that power trains in certain parts of the country can also be affected by faults in extreme temperatures. This is because the steel wires can become too low, which can lead to them hanging too low.
Tim Doran from the RNLI’s Water Safety Team stated that the service anticipates a busy weekend at the coast for its lifeboat crews, lifeguards, and lifeboat crews.
He said, “If you’re going to the beach we recommend that you visit a lifeguarded shore and swim between the yellow and red flags.”
Rod Dennis, the spokesperson for RAC Breakdown, stated that “we anticipate there could around 15-20% more breakdowns Monday and Tuesday. This equates to over 1,000 additional people in need of help each day.”
The amber warning for high heat in much of England and Wales was in effect until Tuesday. With the expected hot spell peaking at the beginning of next week, it has been updated.
Image, CREDIT: Met Office
