Heat health alert in force across the South West
Highs of up to 31 degrees Celsius have been forecast for this week
Last updated 24th Jun 2024
A yellow heat health alert has been issued for the South West this week with temperatures of up to 31 degrees Celsius forecast.
It has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office for most of England, with all but the North East included in the warning.
It came into force at 8am on Monday 24th June and will remain in place until Thursday afternoon.
Liam Eslick, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said Monday would see mostly dry weather with "plenty of sunny spells" and a maximum temperature of 28C.
Mr Eslick said Wednesday was likely to be the warmest of the days so far with highs of 30C in the South East.
Significant impact
The UKHSA have issued the alert with warnings for disruption to everyday life caused by the increased heat, such as concerns rising for the elderly and those who are vulnerable.
Warnings from the agency include risks for higher temperatures in settings such as care homes and hospitals, which could lead to exceeding recommended thresholds for clinical risk assessments.
There's also concerns on how the heat could impact healthcare services, and hospitals.
Overheating indoor environments, and workforce efficiency are among the other areas which could be impacted due to increased temperatures across the regions.