UK weather: Yellow heat health alert extended for parts of England

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Lead weather presenter Simon King reported that a yellow heat health alert has been extended for seven regions in England as the country faces its fourth heatwave of the summer. The UK Health Security Agency downgraded the alert from amber and stated that the affected areas include Yorkshire and Humber, the East and West Midlands, London, the South East and South West, and the East of England until 18:00 BST on 18 August.

Meanwhile, a yellow thunderstorm warning is in place for large swathes of Scotland until midnight on Wednesday, extending to Northern Ireland until 22:00 the following day. The Met Office cautioned that the thunderstorms could lead to localised disruption, including road spray and potential flash flooding.

Following England’s recent heatwave, which saw temperatures reach 33.4C in Northolt, North-west London, Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, and Benson in Oxfordshire, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland also experienced hot weather. While Scotland and Northern Ireland did not technically reach heatwave temperatures, they still exceeded the average temperatures for the season, with some areas reaching 29C on Wednesday.

Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves to climate change, which also impacts extreme weather events. The Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health revealed that heat-related mortality in Europe has risen by 30% in the past two decades, resulting in over 100,000 deaths.

Looking ahead, temperatures are expected to rise again on Friday after a brief respite. Despite cloudy spells, much of the UK will continue to experience warm weather, presenting challenges for farmers, wildlife, and areas facing drought conditions. The national drought group highlighted the severity of the water shortage, with certain regions already experiencing drought conditions and millions of people facing hosepipe bans

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