Heat health alerts covering much of UK as temperatures soar to mid-30s again
Brits are being urged to avoid the sun during the hottest parts of the day
Parts of England have been hit with an amber heat health alert as the UK faces the possibility of another heatwave.
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The alerts issued by the The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will be in place for the East Midlands, East of England, South East and London regions from 9am on Monday until 9am on Wednesday.
The North West, Yorkshire and The Humber, the West Midlands and South West will be under a yellow alert during the same period.
It follows the driest July on record, with temperatures on most days due to hover in the mid to late twenties with no sign of cloudy weather.
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It is the latest spike in heat in a summer that has already seen record-breaking, deadly, heatwaves in May and June – which together saw more than 2,800 excess deaths – and further heatwaves in July, which have fuelled wildfires, drought and poor harvests.
Much of central and southern England is set to see highs in the upper 20s to low 30s, with peaks of 28-30C again on Tuesday, before temperatures ease slightly later in the week.
Low pressure moving in from the west could bring rain to northern and western parts of the UK, with a chance of showers reaching the South East on Tuesday and Wednesday.
But experts at the Met Office have warned weather conditions in August are not looking favourable for delivering the kind of sustained rain needed to reverse the dry conditions that have left all of Wales and half of England officially in drought.
Last week, a new report by UKHSA found that there have been almost double the number of excess deaths caused by heatwaves so far this year than in last summer.
It estimated that there were 2,877 heat-associated deaths during the heatwaves in May and June this year, and an estimated 753 deaths associated with the May heatwave from May 24-27. A further 2,124 were reported during the June heatwave between June 21 and 28.
On Wednesday, UKHSA identified four areas in England that will be subject to its "amber" heat warnings this week.
The government body gave the more severe warnings to London, the South East, the East of England, and the East Midlands, while other parts of the country have less severe "green" and "yellow" alerts.
UKHSA guidance on staying safe in hot weather is available online with tips on keeping yourself and others safe during periods of hotter weather.
Polly Ashmore, of the UKHSA, said: "Periods of hot weather can result in serious health outcomes, especially for older adults, and it is therefore important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.
"We are urging health and social care services in affected regions to ensure they are prepared, and reminding people to look out for elderly relatives, neighbours and those with underlying health conditions, making sure they are aware of the forecast and following the necessary advice.
"Simple steps such as staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool are some of the key ways to help keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather."