The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued a Yellow Heat Health Alert for most of England, effective from Monday at 8 am until Thursday at 5 pm. The alert excludes the North East and comes as temperatures are expected to reach 30°C, potentially meeting official heatwave criteria.

Heat Health Alerts are part of a service offered by UKHSA in collaboration with the Met Office since 2004, aimed at warning the public about the impacts of high temperatures. These alerts can be classified into three levels:

  1. Yellow Alert: Indicates minimal risk to the general population but potential health impacts on vulnerable groups such as the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions.
  2. Amber Alert: Suggests that health impacts may be felt widely across the population and other sectors, necessitating a coordinated response.
  3. Red Alert: Signifies a significant risk to life, with severe impacts expected across all sectors, requiring an essential coordinated response.

This heatwave alert follows a period of record temperatures in other regions, including Washington D.C., where the city reached 100°F for the first time since 2016, prompting a heat advisory. Similar high temperatures up to 29°C are expected in the UK, impacting areas such as Heathrow.

The Met Office defines a heatwave as a period of at least three consecutive days with maximum daily temperatures at or above a set threshold (28°C in this case). The current warming trend in the UK might meet these criteria by midweek.

Regions expected to see the highest temperatures include the South East of England, with cooler conditions predicted for Scotland and Northern Ireland starting Tuesday. Warmer and more humid night temperatures are also anticipated, contributing to the sustained heat conditions.

This period of intense heat will likely impact daily activities and require specific attention to vulnerable populations.