London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK health officials have given yellow warnings as a heatwave is predicted to push temperatures exceeding 30C in south-east England.
What Are the Health Impacts of the Upcoming Heatwave?
The UK Health Security Agency administered yellow heat health warnings for all of England except the north-east and north-west until Wednesday. The UKHSA stated the hot weather may have “significant impacts” on health and social care, especially across the south-east and London.
How Will the Heatwave Affect Temperatures in South-East England?
Temperatures are predicted to reach 30C in the capital on Monday and 32C on Tuesday, before dropping to 29C on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures peaked at 27.3C in Charlwood, Surrey, on Sunday as heat began to build up after an uneasy end to last week.
How Does the Current Weather Pattern Contribute to High Temperatures?
The warmer temperatures are a consequence of a change in weather pattern from more inferior to higher pressure as the jet stream dilutes to the west of the UK. High pressure indicates the air is sinking from more increase in the atmosphere, which brings drier, more settled and sunnier weather.
Heatwave standards are met when a location records at least three straight days with maximum temperatures meeting or surpassing the heatwave temperature threshold, which differs by region; for example, this is 28C in London, and 25C in the north of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
What Are the Recommendations for Managing Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke?
Last week, the climate campaign party Round Our Way cautioned of “worryingly hot” temperatures involving children and teachers in classrooms as climate change causes more heatwaves. Its research demonstrated classrooms breached a suggested maximum temperature of 26C during the heatwave in late June.
The UKHSA urges during heatwaves that people look out for weak people, including children and older people, and those with underlying health requirements. People should close curtains in rooms that meet the sun, drink plenty of fluids, bypass physical exertion during the most burning parts of the day, and keep out of the sun between 11 am and 3 pm.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has administered a yellow weather alert for thunderstorms for much of the UK. Most of southern England, the Midlands and much of the north of England are surrounded by the alert, which comes into intenseness at midnight on Thursday and ends at 11.59 pm. “Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop on Thursday and may lead to some disruption,” the Met Office stated.