The “red” alert will last throughout Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death to healthy people, according to the UK Met Office, the meteorological service of the country. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Britain is 38.7C, a record set in 2019. “We have a difficult 48 hours,” Kit Malthouse, minister for government coordination, told BBC radio. A level 4 heat alert issued by Britain’s Met Office is defined as a national emergency, used when a heat wave “is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend beyond the health and social care system. In at this level, disease and death can occur among people who are physically fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups.” A woman sunbathes on a balcony in Hackney, London, on Sunday. While some Brits flocked to the beach to beat the current heatwave, city dwellers found other ways to stay cool. (Hollie Adams/Getty Images) While Monday is likely to bring record highs to southeast England, temperatures are expected to rise further as warm air moves north on Tuesday, Met Office chief executive Penelope Endersby said. The extreme heat warning extends from London in the south to Manchester and Leeds in the north. “So tomorrow we actually see the highest chance of 40 degrees and temperatures above that,” Endersby told the BBC. “Forty-one is not out of the question. We even have 43 in the model, but hopefully it won’t be that high.”
Termination of Services in effect
Train operators are asking customers not to travel unless absolutely necessary because the heat is likely to warp rails and disrupt power supplies, leading to serious delays. Some medical appointments have been canceled to relieve pressure on the health service. While some schools are closed, others are setting up pools and water sprays to help children cool off. The government urged schools to stay open, but many were to close earlier than usual, normal uniform requirements were scrapped and end-of-term sports days were cancelled. Some schools have closed, resorting to online lockdown-style classes. Commuters wait for their train on a platform at West Norwood station in south London on Monday, with service disruptions in place due to extreme heat. (Niklas Halle’n/AFP/Getty Images) And at least one major zoo, in Chester, said it would close for two days, while London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo said many animals could be withdrawn to “cold zones” and some exhibits may be closed. Some factories also extended their working hours to prevent workers in the hottest jobs, such as welding, from getting sick. The night will bring little relief, with the Met Office forecasting temperatures of 29C at midnight in London. Monday night will be “very oppressive” and sleep will be difficult, chief meteorologist Paul Davies said. WATCHES | Never used heat alert in force in UK, wildfires in western Europe:
Death toll rises as extreme heatwave hits Europe
A brutal and dangerous heat wave is causing multiple crises across Europe. France is battling wildfires, while officials in Portugal and Spain say extreme heat has so far killed more than 1,000 people. “Tomorrow is the day we’re really worried about a good chance now that we’ll get to 40 or 41 degrees Celsius, and along with all the health conditions that come with those higher temperatures,” he said. The heat in Britain is being reflected across much of Europe, where extreme temperatures and a lack of rain are leading to multiple large fires in France, Spain and elsewhere.
