Heat health alerts cover nearly all of England – but rain is finally on the way

It’s easier to say which parts of England aren’t set for temperatures even hotter than the Greek islands today.

Temperatures could reach 35°C in the South East, higher than forecasts for the islands of Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini.

Most of central and southern England will see highs of the upper 20s and low 30s before the nation gets a brief respite from the heat.

Everywhere but the North East is under a heat health alert, which warns that there could be a ‘rise in deaths’ during the days-long heat spell.

Amber alerts are in effect in London, the South East, East of England and the East Midlands until Wednesday, the UK Health Security Agency says.

All other regions – the North West, Yorkshire and Humber, the West Midlands and the South West – are under a yellow heat health warning.

Amber alerts warn that health and social care services will face ‘significant’ strain, with hospitals and care homes simply too hot to cope.

Blackouts are possible as power demand ‘exceeds capacity’, the warnings say, as are a rise in people drowning and suffering cold-water shock.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said today will be the ‘peak of the heat’.

‘Temperatures do come down a little bit, we’re still talking 28 to 30°C on Tuesday,’ he added.

‘Again, the South East and East Anglia we’re seeing the highest temperatures on Tuesday, so not as extreme as tomorrow, but still well above average.’

‘And then even by Wednesday, we’re looking at high 20s, 26 or 27°C, in the South East.

‘But it’s a gradual cooling down process through the week, and always cooler towards the North and West in any case, high teens, low 20s, but certainly central and South East England seeing hot weather returning briefly, and a lot of sunshine to come in the South East as well.’

Tomorrow will also see the return of something the UK is all too infamous for – rain.

The Met Office is forecasting rainfall in every part of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland from the early hours.

Scotland and Northern Ireland’s rain will be the heaviest, Petagna said, with weather warnings possible.

Only the odd part of England will be in the splash zone in the coming days, though the north will be drenched by up to 2mm of rain Thursday morning.

The weather service’s forecast issued today says: ‘Outbreaks of heavy rain in the north today with a risk of thunder. Scattered showers in the south with the odd thunderstorm. Very warm and humid. Windy in the north.

‘Rather unsettled in the north over the next few days with rain or showers. Some showers in the south at first, but turning drier from Thursday.’

Last month was the driest July the UK has seen in 190 years, the Met Office says, with more than half of England and all of Wales in drought.

Barely a thimble of rain was seen in England – just 5.6mm, less than half of the previous record of 13.4mm set in 1911.

Bone-dry conditions caused by three heatwaves have seen wildfires flare and centuries-old gardens resurface.

Until the rain, Polly Ashmore, of the UKHSA, said people, especially the elderly and vulnerable, need to be prepared for a few more days of heat.

Ashmore added: ‘Simple steps such as staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool are some of the key ways to help keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather.’

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