The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow heat health alert for the West Midlands, including Birmingham and the Black Country, as temperatures are forecast to climb to 33C next week. The alert will be in effect from 9am on Saturday, August 8, until 9pm on Tuesday, August 11, and warns of potential strain on health and social care services.
Forecast details
According to the Met Office, mercury levels had fallen closer to seasonal averages from Wednesday, but are expected to rise again from Saturday. By next Tuesday, much of central and southern England, along with parts of Wales, are anticipated to experience highs of 30C to 33C.
Honor Criswick, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "The warm weather is continuing once again," adding that Friday is set to be a "nice, dry, settled day with quite a bit of warm sunshine around".
Health risks and vulnerable groups
The yellow heat-health alerts caution that soaring temperatures could place considerable strain on health and social care services in affected regions. There is a potential surge in fatalities, particularly amongst those aged 65 and above or those with pre-existing health conditions.
This summer has already witnessed two record-breaking heatwaves, in May and June, which resulted in more than 2,800 excess deaths. Two further heatwaves in July contributed to drought conditions and wildfires.
Record dry and sunny July
Last month proved to be the driest July for England and Wales since records were first kept in 1836, according to provisional data published by the Met Office. Met Office data reveals that 19 counties throughout England recorded virtually no rainfall – just 1mm or less – during the entire month.
England as a whole received a mere tenth of its typical monthly rainfall, while Wales experienced just 9% of its average, with both nations recording less than half the precipitation seen during the previous driest July on record in 1911.
Sunniest July on record
The UK, England and Wales have all logged their sunniest Julys ever documented – and for England and Wales specifically, it was the sunniest calendar month ever recorded, according to the Met Office.
