'Heat Health Alert' for Cornwall as Britain braces for another hot spell

The yellow 'Level 2' alert means 'alert and readiness' and comes into force on Tuesday

Author: Emma HartPublished 6th Aug 2022
Last updated 6th Aug 2022

The Met Office has issued a 'Heat Health Alert' for the whole of the south of the UK, including Cornwall.

It will be in force from 12pm on Tuesday 9th August, and means there is a 60% probability of heatwave conditions in the Duchy.

The Level 2, or yellow, alert means 'alert and readiness' and states: "There is a 60% probability of Heat-Health Alert criteria being met between 1200 on Tuesday 09 Aug and 0900 on Friday 12 Aug in parts of England.

"Fine, dry and largely sunny weather across the south of England over the weekend will extend northwards into the start of next week. As this happens, temperatures are expected to steadily rise, becoming warm or very warm across much of the country and potentially hot across the central southern England.

"It is likely that the trigger alert criteria will be reached in this area from Tuesday, with a moderate risk elsewhere. The hot weather could continue, but this will be reviewed next week".

The Met Office says temperatures are forecast to rise during the coming week, but it is not expecting any records to be broken.

An area of high pressure building from the Atlantic into the south and south west of England will bring rising temperatures with some areas expected to reach low or even mid 30sC by the end of next week.

Met Office chief forecaster Steve Willington said: "We could see parts of the UK entering heatwave conditions if the above-average temperatures last for three days or more. Many areas of the UK, especially the south, will witness temperatures several degrees higher than average, but these values are likely to be well below the record-breaking temperatures we saw in mid-July.

"As the high pressure builds there is very little meaningful rain in the forecast, especially in those areas in the south of England, which experienced very dry conditions last month.

Read more: Cornwall's water provider warns of possible restrictions if dry spell continues

"Elsewhere in the UK, such as in northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, rain-bearing weather fronts will make limited headway against the high pressure, bringing some rain to north-western parts of the UK".

You can find tips for keeping cool in the hot weather on the Met Office website.

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