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Heatwave continues with north-west set to be hot spot Heatwave warning levels cut - but hot weather continues
(about 2 hours later)
The north-west of England and the western fringes of Scotland look set to be the warmest parts of the country on Saturday as the heatwave continues. The Met Office has reduced its heatwave warning levels for much of England.
The North West, West Midlands and South West were at level three - when health services should take action to protect elderly, ill and very young people.
But these have been changed to level two - "alert and readiness" - matching all other areas except the North East, which is at the lowest warning level.
Temperatures are expected to rise again next week and people are being urged to avoid sunburn and prevent fires.
Other parts of the UK do not use Met Office heatwave alerts but health bodies there have urged people to take care.
The UK is currently in its first prolonged heatwave since 2006, with temperatures above 30C recorded somewhere in the country on each of the last six days.
This is still some way short of the heatwave of 1976, when temperatures above 32C were recorded on 15 days in a row.
Rising humidity
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had their hottest day of the year on Friday.
Temperatures reached 29C (84.2F) at Prestwick, South Ayrshire, 31C (87.8F) at Porthmadog, north Wales, and 30C at Castlederg, Co Tyrone.
The north-west of England and the western fringes of Scotland look set to be the warmest parts of the country on Saturday.
Temperatures could hit 30C (86F) along the west of Great Britain, but cooler and cloudier weather is expected on much of the east coast.Temperatures could hit 30C (86F) along the west of Great Britain, but cooler and cloudier weather is expected on much of the east coast.
Emergency services have issued a range of warnings, including calls for people to avoid sunburn and prevent fires. BBC Weather's Philip Avery said temperatures could reach the mid-30s in some areas next week, with humidity also increasing.
Next week temperatures could get up to the mid-30s, BBC Weather predicted.
In England the Met Office has issued level three heatwave warnings - meaning health services should take action to protect "high-risk" groups such as the elderly and young children - for the North West, the East Midlands and the South West.
Level two "alert and readiness" warnings have been issued for the Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, the South East and London.
Health services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - which all had their hottest day of the year on Friday - are not part of the Met Office heatwave warning system, but public health bodies have urged people to take care in the hot weather.
Temperatures on Friday reached 29C (84.2F) at Prestwick, South Ayrshire, 31C (87.8F) at Porthmadog, north Wales, and 30C at Castlederg, Co Tyrone.
Since the heatwave began 10 severely sunburned children - including a four-week-old baby - have been admitted to the specialist children's burns unit at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex.Since the heatwave began 10 severely sunburned children - including a four-week-old baby - have been admitted to the specialist children's burns unit at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex.
Consultant plastic surgeon Nora Nugent urged parents to spend "a couple of minutes" applying sunscreen before letting children go outside.Consultant plastic surgeon Nora Nugent urged parents to spend "a couple of minutes" applying sunscreen before letting children go outside.
Police and fire services have also warned people to be careful when swimming in open water following several deaths in recent weeks, including that of a 69-year-old woman in the sea off Skegness, Lincolnshire, on Friday.Police and fire services have also warned people to be careful when swimming in open water following several deaths in recent weeks, including that of a 69-year-old woman in the sea off Skegness, Lincolnshire, on Friday.
HM Coastguard has issued safety advice to swimmers and sailors after call-outs in the past month were up by nearly a quarter compared with the same period last year - as more people take to the coast to enjoy the sunshine.HM Coastguard has issued safety advice to swimmers and sailors after call-outs in the past month were up by nearly a quarter compared with the same period last year - as more people take to the coast to enjoy the sunshine.
Firefighters had to tackle a grass fire at the southern edge of Epping Forest in east London on Friday, one of several recent wildfires around the UK.Firefighters had to tackle a grass fire at the southern edge of Epping Forest in east London on Friday, one of several recent wildfires around the UK.
Gus O'Rourke, of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, asked the public to "spare a thought for the firefighters".Gus O'Rourke, of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, asked the public to "spare a thought for the firefighters".
He told BBC Breakfast many fires are started by carelessness, such as throwing cigarettes out of car windows or leaving barbecues unattended.He told BBC Breakfast many fires are started by carelessness, such as throwing cigarettes out of car windows or leaving barbecues unattended.
Large rural fires can put firefighters and members of the public in danger, especially if the wind direction changes suddenly, Mr O'Rourke added.Large rural fires can put firefighters and members of the public in danger, especially if the wind direction changes suddenly, Mr O'Rourke added.
Research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has estimated there might have been between 540 and 760 extra deaths in England and 60 to 100 in Wales due to the hot weather.Research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has estimated there might have been between 540 and 760 extra deaths in England and 60 to 100 in Wales due to the hot weather.
Level three heatwave alerts are triggered when threshold temperatures - which vary by English region - have been reached for one day and the following night, and the forecast for the next day has a greater than 90% confidence level that the daytime threshold temperature will again be met. Met Office heatwave alerts are triggered when threshold temperatures - which vary by English region - have been reached for one day and the following night, and the level depends on the likelihood of those temperatures being reached again the next day.
BBC Weather's Philip Avery said temperatures could reach the mid-30s in some areas next week, with humidity also increasing.
It is the UK's first prolonged heatwave since 2006, with six consecutive days of temperatures above 30C.
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