Yellow heat health alerts have been issued for most of England with temperatures set to soar across the country later this week. Yorkshire and The Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East England, the South East, the South West and London are all covered by the alert which comes into force at 12:00 BST on Wednesday and lasts until 18:00 on Sunday. The alert is the lowest behind amber and red on the UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) alerting system, but warns of possible impacts on health and social services. Temperatures are set to be as high as 26C in London on Tuesday, with an area of high pressure building across the UKlikely to bring the first heatwave of 2025 during the week. All of the affected areas excluding Yorkshire and the Humber have been given a risk score of 10 out of a possible 16, meaning "significant impacts are possible" due to high temperatures. The UKHSA's website says this includes a possible rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, while younger age groups could also be affected. An increase in demand for health services is likely, it said, and there is a risk the heat could affect the ability of people working in hospitals and care homes to deliver services. Internal temperatures in hospitals, care homes and independent accommodation could also pose a risk to vulnerable people, it said. Yorkshire and the Humber's score of seven means that only minor impacts are likely. According to the Met Office, Tuesday will see cloudy weather with patches of rain in southern Scotland, the east of Northern Ireland, northwest England and northwest Wales. Sunny spells and showers are expected in northern parts of the UK, and after a locally grey start further south, there will be some very warm sunshine.
Yellow heat health alerts issued for most of England as temperatures set to soar
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Heat Health Alerts Issued Across England as Temperatures Expected to Rise"
Bbc News
8.5
TruthLens AI Summary
Yellow heat health alerts have been activated across most of England as the country braces for a significant rise in temperatures later this week. The alert, which is categorized as yellow on the UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) scale, affects regions including Yorkshire and The Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East England, the South East, the South West, and London. This alert will take effect from 12:00 BST on Wednesday and will remain in place until 18:00 on Sunday. Although the yellow alert is the least severe compared to amber and red warnings, it serves to caution citizens about potential health risks and the strain on social services that may arise due to the soaring temperatures. Forecasts predict that temperatures could reach as high as 26 degrees Celsius in London by Tuesday, fueled by a high-pressure system that is likely to usher in the first heatwave of 2025.
The UKHSA has assigned a risk score of 10 out of a possible 16 to all areas under the alert, excluding Yorkshire and the Humber, which received a lower score of seven. This indicates that significant impacts, particularly on health, are probable, especially for vulnerable populations such as individuals aged 65 and older or those with pre-existing health conditions. The heightened temperatures are expected to increase the demand for health services, with concerns that heat may hinder the ability of healthcare workers in hospitals and care homes to deliver essential services. The UKHSA warns that internal temperatures in hospitals and care facilities could pose additional risks to vulnerable residents. Meanwhile, the Met Office forecasts a mix of cloudy weather and patches of rain in parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northwest England on Tuesday, while northern regions may experience sunny spells interspersed with showers, and warmer weather is anticipated in the south following a cloudy start.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.