The UK Health Security Agency has raised its health alert warning level to amber in the West Midlands as temperatures rocket over the bank holiday weekend. A rise in deaths is expected across Birmingham, the Black Country and the wider West Midlands as temperatures soar in the year’s first big heatwave.
Temperatures are set to hit the early 30s Celsius, or high 80s Fahrenheit, over the Bank Holiday weekend. The West Midlands is one of five English regions to have an amber alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), with five more getting a lower-level yellow alert. The yellow alert for the West Midlands was swiftly upgraded.
Amber Alert Details
The other four regions on amber are the East Midlands, East of England, South East and London. The amber alert is in effect from 2pm on Friday, May 22 to 5pm on Wednesday, May 27.
Expected Impacts
UKHSA said: “Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:
- A rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups;
- Likely increased demand on all health and social care services;
- Internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed recommended thresholds for clinical risk assessment;
- The heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services;
- Indoor environments overheating, increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings;
- Issues managing medicines;
- Staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport);
- Increased demand for power exceeding capacity;
- Other sectors starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays).”
Weather Forecast
The sustained warm temperatures are set to last for more than a week, with the BBC weather forecasters predicting 25°C for Friday, May 22, 27°C on Saturday, 31°C on Sunday, 29°C on Monday, 25°C on Tuesday, 27°C on Wednesday, 26°C on Thursday, and 24°C on Saturday, May 30. Sun is forecast every day. The weather is then set to break on Sunday, May 31 with rain forecast and a dip in temperature to 21°C.
The Met Office said: “Very warm and sunny over the Bank Holiday weekend. Friday will be a fine and dry day with plenty of sunshine. The sunshine may turn a little hazy throughout the afternoon, but despite this it will be feeling very warm. Maximum temperature 26°C. Friday night it will be remaining fine and dry this evening, before cloud increases towards midnight. Overnight some spots of rain are possible but most remaining dry. A mild night for many. Minimum temperature 13°C.
“On Saturday any early cloud quickly breaking up giving way to a dry and sunny day, although sunshine maybe a little hazy at times. Feeling very warm in the strong sunshine. Maximum temperature 26°C.
“From Sunday to Tuesday it will be remaining dry and settled throughout Sunday and early next week with plenty of sunshine. Feeling hot by day with potentially some warm nights too.”
