A yellow alert has been upgraded to an amber alert for many regions
Heatwave weather as sunsets on Crosby Beach(Image: Colin Lane)
More areas of the UK have been issued with a heat-health alert warning. The alert affects all regions in England and will be in place from 12pm today, Thursday June 19, until 9am, Monday June 23. The alerting system provides an early warning when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.
The heat-health alerts are issued by the UK Health Security Agency, who work alongside the Met Office. The amber alert indicates that “significant impacts are likely” across health and social care services, and warns there could be “a rise in deaths” among people with pre-existing health conditions and those aged over 65.
The North West is currently under the amber heat-health alert. A risk description for the alert states: “Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures” This is including:
- a rise in deaths, particularly among those ages 65 and over or with health conditions.There may also be impacts on younger age groups
- likely increased demand on all health and social care services
- internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
- the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
- indoor environments overheating incrasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
- issues managing medicines
- staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
- increased demand for power exceeding capacity
- other sectors starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)
Map shows UK under amber hear-alert warning(Image: UKHSA)Full list of places under amber weather health alert
North East – Risk score 12
North West – Risk score 12
Yorkshire and The Humber – Risk score 12
East Midlands – Risk score 12
West Midlands – Risk score 12
East of England – Risk score 12
London – Risk score 12
South East – Risk score 12
South West – Risk score 12
Heatwave conditions in the UK are met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with temperature values meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold for that location.
Across much of the north and west of the UK this threshold is 25C, but across Greater London and the Home Counties the threshold is higher, at 28C.
The temperature in Liverpool is forecast to reach a high of 29C BY 6pm this evening. Tomorrow, June 20, is set to be the hottest day of the year in Liverpool. The weather agency has forecast that Liverpool could reach 32C.