Here’s a summary of the provided news article, along with a key takeaways section:
Key Takeaways:
- The UK is experiencing a heatwave, with Tuesday marking the hottest day of the year so far.
- London, southern England, and south-east Wales are expected to officially meet the heatwave criteria.
- A Yellow Heat Health Alert is in place for most of England, warning of potential health impacts, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable.
- Thunderstorms are forecast for later in the week, with yellow warnings issued for parts of England and Wales.
- Climate change is making hotter days more likely and more intense.
Heatwave Grips the UK, Tuesday Hottest Day of the Year
A significant heatwave is currently affecting large portions of the United Kingdom, with Tuesday recording the highest temperatures of the year thus far. Measuring stations operated by the Met Office at Heathrow and Kew Gardens, located in south-west London, reached 32°C (90°F), surpassing the previous high of 31.9°C recorded in central London on July 19th. The situation has led to predictions that London, southern England, and south-eastern Wales will meet the official definition of a heatwave this week.
Heat Health Alert and Potential Health Impacts
In response to the soaring temperatures, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a Yellow Heat Health Alert for all areas of England, excluding the North East and North West. This alert, the second of four tiers, indicates that while the heat is "unlikely to impact most people," it poses a risk to the elderly and vulnerable populations. The UKHSA has cautioned that the heatwave may lead to an "observed increase in mortality across the population," particularly among individuals aged 65 and over or those with pre-existing health conditions. Furthermore, they anticipate an increase in the demand for remote healthcare services and potential challenges with maintaining acceptable internal temperatures in hospitals and care homes.
Regional Temperature Variations
While many parts of the country are experiencing temperatures significantly above average for this time of year, Scotland and Northern Ireland have not broken temperature records. Wales experienced its warmest day of the year with a recorded high of 29°C near Newport, while Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded highs of 22.3°C and 23°C, respectively.
Defining a Heatwave and Meteorological Perspectives
The Met Office defines a heatwave as a period of at least three consecutive days during which daily maximum temperatures meet or exceed the designated heatwave temperature threshold for a specific location. For London and its surrounding areas, this threshold is 28°C, which has already been exceeded since Monday. Temperatures are expected to remain above this level until Friday. Other regions have varying thresholds, such as 27°C for south-east England and 26°C for other parts of southern England and the Midlands. According to Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell, much of the southern UK is "entering a heatwave" based on the current forecast, with official declarations anticipated for central and southern England, as well as south-east Wales, in the coming days.
Thunderstorm Warnings and Future Weather Outlook
Despite the ongoing heatwave, a shift in weather patterns is expected later in the week, with yellow thunderstorm warnings issued by the Met Office for various regions. A warning is in effect for south-east England and parts of the south coast. Another yellow thunderstorm warning takes effect encompassing most of northern and southern England, the Midlands, and parts of Wales, raising concerns about "lightning, hail and gusty winds" that could cause disruptions. While the warm weather is expected to return by Friday, it will likely remain below heatwave criteria, with temperatures around 20°C accompanied by rain showers. The remainder of the month is forecast to bring breezy conditions to the north-west and drier, brighter weather to the south-east. A more settled period is anticipated towards the middle of August.
Climate Change and Heatwave Trends
Scientists at the Met Office attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves to climate change. They emphasize that climate change makes hotter days more likely and more intense, with heatwaves also becoming longer in many places, including the UK. BBC Weather lead forecaster Chris Fawkes noted that the heat will be slow to dissipate overnight, leading to uncomfortable sleeping conditions with temperatures remaining above 20°C in many towns and cities. He also predicted that Wednesday could be even hotter in parts of central southern England and the Midlands, with temperatures potentially reaching 31°C to 32°C.