The Met Office has issued a serious amber weather warning for extreme heat from Monday across 51 areas of the UK, cautioning that the hot weather could lead to power cuts. The warning, which lasts 47 hours from 1am on Monday until 11.59pm on Tuesday, primarily affects southern England and Wales.
Extreme Heat Forecast
Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-30s Celsius during the day, with overnight lows potentially staying above 20°C in urban areas. The Met Office warned that heat-sensitive systems and equipment might fail, causing power cuts and loss of other services to homes and businesses.
In a statement, the Met Office said: 'A developing hot spell is expected to peak on Monday and Tuesday and lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure. Following very warm weather on Sunday, very high temperatures are expected on Monday and Tuesday and will likely bring widespread impacts. In addition to high daytime maxima, temperatures overnight will remain very warm, especially in larger urban areas, and it will also feel humid.'
Potential Impacts
The very high temperatures may continue into the middle of the week across a smaller area, though there is some uncertainty regarding the extent. The Met Office advised people to prepare for potential power cuts by gathering torches, batteries, and mobile phone power packs.
Additionally, they urged caution near water: 'Keep yourself safe whilst enjoying the water in this weather by following these simple steps: enter the water gradually, avoiding jumping or diving straight in, to reduce your risk of cold-water shock, go to a lifeguarded beach or a supervised swimming area, and, if you, or anyone else, get into difficulty in the water, float on your back.'
Residents in affected areas are advised to stay updated with the latest forecasts and take necessary precautions to stay safe during the heatwave.
