Latest figures show that hot weather has led to a 552% increase in people seeking heat exhaustion advice from the NHS website this week, as temperatures look likely to hit 30C on Saturday.
According to reports, the UK has had five days of temperatures above 30C in September for the first time and that record is likely to continue on Saturday and Sunday. The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat health alert across most of the country.
The Met office was also quoted as saying that there is also the potential for thunderstorms across a large chunk of central Britain on Saturday.
According to figures released by NHS England, which runs the NHS website. there were 32,130 visits to the health advice page on heat exhaustion and heatstroke from Sunday to Thursday this week. This is compared with 4,928 visits made during the same period last week, when temperatures across England were cooler.
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Highs of 32.6C (90.7F) in Wisley in Surrey on Thursday surpassed this year’s previous record of 32.2C on 10 June, the Met Office said. It is expected that the record for three consecutive days of hot weather in September will be beaten this week.
The Met Office was also quoted as saying that while temperatures had reached similar levels in 2020 and 2021, the hot weather – and heatwave conditions in some parts of the country – could last until the end of the weekend.
The UK Health Security Agency, which provides alerts for the health and social care sector in England, issued an amber heat-health alert across much of the country, until 9pm on 10 September, which highlights the increased risks to those more vulnerable to heat.
It warned that children, people over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, should be especially cautious in the hot weather.
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
