Red Alert in Effect for Birmingham and Midlands
Birmingham was under a literal red alert on Wednesday, June 24, as the Met Office imposed its highest level of heat warning on the Midlands for only the second time. The red weather warning came into force at 9am and will last for 36 hours until 9pm on Thursday, June 25.
The alert is reserved for the most severe events, with the heatwave expected to bring “severe and significant impacts” including widespread health risks for many, not just those normally vulnerable to heat, and even danger to life, according to the Met Office.
Comparison to 2022 Heatwave
The first red warning was declared across the Midlands during the 2022 heatwave. At that time, the Lickey Hills burned, flights from Luton Airport were delayed because the runway surface melted, and Henley-in-Arden's famous ice cream parlour closed early as customers stayed home in the shade.
Dr Will Lang, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said the extreme heat would last longer than in 2022, when a “short, sharp” period saw temperatures climb above 40C in some places for the first time in the UK. He told the Press Association the current conditions would far exceed the heat seen in June in the past and were on “a much bigger scale” than the heatwave at the end of May.
Temperature Forecast and Impacts
The Met Office forecast temperatures would peak at 33C from 5pm on Wednesday before rising to a high of 36C late Thursday afternoon. The current alert warned that “substantial changes” in working practices and daily routines would be required, and indicated a high risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, potentially including loss of power and other essential services such as water, electricity, gas, or mobile phone services.
Dozens of schools were totally or partially closed across the Midlands on Wednesday, and West Midlands Ambulance Service warned everyone to take precautions and stay out of open water.
Health Warnings and Risks
Dr Lang said: “We are forecasting extreme temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday, when it looks like we’ll be seeing maximum temperatures into the high 30s. But also we are stressing very high overnight temperatures which will be very uncomfortable for vulnerable groups, and very humid conditions as well.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a red health warning for six regions of England, including the West Midlands, from 1am on Wednesday until 11pm on Thursday. That indicates “a risk to life for even the healthy population” as well as impacts beyond health and social care, with potential effects on transport systems, food, water, energy supplies, and businesses.
