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Beachgoers warned to stay safe as UK braces for potential heatwave Beachgoers warned to stay safe as UK braces for potential heatwave
(about 3 hours later)
Temperatures could reach 37C during string of ‘incredibly warm’ days, says Met OfficeTemperatures could reach 37C during string of ‘incredibly warm’ days, says Met Office
The RNLI has urged families heading to the beach this week to be aware of potential dangers as the UK braces for a potential heatwave. People are being warned to look out for older people, young children and those with underlying health conditions, as the UK prepares for a heatwave over the coming weekend.
The Met Office said the warmer weather, starting on Thursday, could reach a blistering 37C (98.6F) in some areas and is expected to last until Sunday. The Met Office issued the amber heat health warning, the second-highest available, on Thursday as it warned people to look out for each other and drink plenty of fluids, while avoiding excessive quantities of alcohol, to deal with temperatures that could rise as high as 38C (100F) in some places.
This would mean parts of Britain could pass the threshold for an “official heatwave”, which requires three days of temperatures over 25C (77F) or higher in different parts of the country. “Although much of the UK can expect a spell of warm and sunny weather lasting into early next week, it’s going to turn very hot for parts of England and Wales with temperatures widely reaching above 30C (86F) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” said the Met office’s chief meteorologist, Dan Suri.
London and the south-east are expected to experience the highest temperatures on Friday, but northern areas such as Manchester and Leeds will also hit the low 30s. “Friday is likely to be the hottest day with temperatures of 36C (97F) to 37C (99F) in parts of east and south-east England. It’s possible temperatures could reach similar levels on Saturday, before falling slightly on Sunday.
Last week, on 31 July, the UK recorded the hottest day of the year so far and the third-warmest on record, with the mercury rising to 37.8C (100.04F) at Heathrow airport. “There’s also a small chance temperatures could reach close to 38C in one or two spots in the south-east on Friday, but this will partly depend on the chance of cloud spreading in from the south-west during the afternoon. Along with hot weather by day, it will stay warm and humid overnight with temperatures remaining in the high teens and low 20s celsius.”
The coastguard reported its busiest day for more than four years as it dealt with more than 300 incidents. Forecasters are advising people to “close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors”.
The RNLI urged families heading to the beach to be aware of potential dangers.
Last week, on 31 July, the UK recorded the hottest day of the year so far and the third-warmest on record, with the mercury rising to 37.8C (100.04F) at Heathrow airport. The coastguard reported its busiest day for more than four years as it dealt with more than 300 incidents.
Ahead of this week’s sunny spell, Gareth Morrison, RNLI’s head of water safety, said: “Our coastline is a fantastic place to spend time together as a family, especially when the sun is out and it’s hot.Ahead of this week’s sunny spell, Gareth Morrison, RNLI’s head of water safety, said: “Our coastline is a fantastic place to spend time together as a family, especially when the sun is out and it’s hot.
“But there are also plenty of potential dangers, especially for those who aren’t fully aware of their surroundings and may be visiting a particular beach for the first time. We are advising everyone planning a visit to a beach or the coast to follow [the] beach safety advice.”“But there are also plenty of potential dangers, especially for those who aren’t fully aware of their surroundings and may be visiting a particular beach for the first time. We are advising everyone planning a visit to a beach or the coast to follow [the] beach safety advice.”
A spokesman for the Met Office said there was a low chance that last week’s record temperature would be beaten but that large parts of the country would have “four or even five consecutive days of incredibly warm temperatures”.
“It is the result of southerly winds moving from Europe and parts of northern Africa, which will push the temperatures up,” he said.
He added: “It’s pretty unusual to get two successive events like this within a week of each other with such high temperatures.”
The heatwave conditions are expected to last until Sunday before cold air moves in overnight, but conditions are expected to stay hot and humid next week with chances of thundery showers.