Stamford & Rutland braced for 'unprecedented' temperatures as heatwave continues

A red 'extreme heat' warning remains in force across parts of the region

Published 19th Jul 2022

Stamford and Rutland is bracing for 'unprecedented' temperatures as the heatwave continues.

A red 'extreme heat' warning remains in force across western parts of the region, with an amber warning in force across the rest of the East.

It's the first ever red warning of it's kind from the Met Office and suggests there could be a risk to life and temperatures could exceed 40C in places.

The Met Office says extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday could have a widespread impact on people and infrastructure.

A red warning for 'extreme heat' is in place

It added 'substantial changes to working practices and daily routines' will be required - with an influx of people on the coast possibly leading to water safety concerns.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has suggested working from home could be a good idea though, although insisted that is ultimately bosses' decision.

"This is potentially a very serious situation."

Grahame Madge, Met Office spokesman, said: "We've just issued a red warning for extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday which is the first such warning ever issued. This is potentially a very serious situation."

In addition to the 'Red warning', an amber warning remains in place across most of East Anglia.

School Closures

Some schools across Stamford & Rutland have confirmed they'll stay shut until Wednesday due to the heat.

Ministers have said they don't think that's necessary though.

You can find the latest on school closures here.

Travel Disruption

There is a warning that we could see disruption on road, rail and in the air today due to the high temperatures forecast.

East Midlands Railways is urging people to only travel if necessary - and Cross Country has made big changes to its timetable

People heading out on the roads are being urged to take care and ensure they have plenty of water.

Get Water Wise

The Met Office is also warning of a potential rise in the number of water-related incidents, with people expected to flock to beaches, lakes and rivers to cool off.

It's something which has led to a number of drownings in recent weeks, including at least five since Saturday.

People are being urged to Get Water Wise and educate themselves on how to stay safe in open water.

Follow this advice, and stay safe around water

During hot summer days, lakes, rivers, reservoirs and the sea can look really tempting.
But beneath the surface can lie hidden dangers, cold temperatures an unexpected currents.
The Royal Life Saving Society has this advice to stay safe.

Look out for lifeguards

If you're looking for a place to cool off always find a lifeguarded swimming site.

It’s colder than it looks

Water at open water and inland sites is often much colder than it looks, cold water can affect your ability to swim and self-rescue.

Don’t go too far

Always swim parallel to the shore, that way you're never too far away from it.

It's stronger than it looks

Currents in the water can be very strong. If you find yourself caught in a riptide – don't swim against it – you'll tire yourself out. Swim with the current and call for help.

Bring a friend

Always bring a friend when you go swimming so if anything goes wrong you've got someone there to help.

What should do to keep safe and cool during this time?

We're all being urged to keep hydrated, look out for vulnerable people, keep curtains closed and stay out of the sun around midday.

The potentially record breaking temperatures is expected to put more pressure on the NHS.

While a Level 3 UK Health Security Agency alert has been issued, advising the health and care sector to look out for vulnerable people and those with underlying health conditions.

The government's Cobra emergency committee held a meeting on Thursday about the exceptional heat and Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse said the key thing was to "prepare" government services.

The Met Office said the hot weather was caused by high pressure over the UK and hot air flowing from southern Europe.

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