ITV News Correspondent Rebecca Barry reports how the UK braced for a national emergency in record heat The Met Office has extended an orange extreme heat warning across England and Wales ahead of Monday’s forecast, which for the first time in the country is expected to reach highs of 40C. The UK’s first red extreme heat warning was issued across much of England from London to Manchester and York on Monday and Tuesday. An orange warning initially covers all of England on Sunday 17 July and extends to southern Scotland and Wales from Monday to Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to break records and are forecast to reach 40C or more for some parts of England. The new health minister said extra measures have been put in place for ambulance services as an extreme heat warning comes into effect. Steve Barclay said additional emergency support, such as more call operators and extra working hours, were being put in place on Monday and Tuesday. The chairman of the NHS Confederation said hospitals would be “really, really squeezed” in the coming days. Forecasters have given an 80% chance the mercury will top the UK record temperature of 38.7C set in Cambridge in 2019 – with the current heatwave peaking on Tuesday. Hot temperatures are forecast for Monday, with Peterborough expected to reach 37C and Milton Keynes, Norwich and Lincoln expected to reach 36C – while temperatures could reach 40C in London on Tuesday. Hundreds of sunbathers on the beach at Broadstairs, Kent Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA The UK’s Health Safety Authority has raised its heat health warning from level three to level four, which is described as a “national emergency”. Mr Barclay said: “The clear message to the public is to take the sensible steps around water, shade and cover, which many people are aware of. This is the best way to cool off from the heat. “We are asking people to look out for their neighbors and those who may be vulnerable. “We also offer additional emergency support.” He added: “We will put extra measures in terms of call handlers, fleet support [and] additional hours of capacity within the ambulances. “Every ambulance trust has well-developed emergency plans for extreme weather events. “We’re also working with hospitals to get ambulances into hospitals, but also to make sure that where people can be taken to wards themselves, we’re using the full capacity of the hospital instead of people waiting longer than they have to be ambulanced out ». An orange warning has been put in place before some areas of England are placed under an unprecedented ‘red’ warning. Credit: ITV News St. John’s Ambulance said Sunday they are already taking heat-related calls. Martin Berry, Chief Paramedic Officer, said: “Some of the things we end up seeing in this type of weather is people suffering from heat stroke, dehydration, the elderly and the vulnerable may not necessarily be drinking as much water as they need. you might be sitting at home not being able to open the windows and it getting very hot. “We also see young children suffering from dehydration as well as burns when they are dragged around in hot yards, so it is very important to keep these people safe and drink plenty of water.” Weather presenter Sally Williams explains what heat waves are and what you can do to stay cool Ministers held a virtual emergency Cobra meeting on Saturday after forecasters warned record high temperatures could put lives at risk. Cabinet minister Keith Malthouse, who chaired the meeting, said transport services would face “significant disruption” on Monday and Tuesday and urged people not to travel. He added that schools are being issued with instructions so they can remain open. Met Office climate performance scientist Dr Nikos Christidis said the 40C forecast is a result of climate change. “We were hoping we wouldn’t get to this situation, but for the first time we’re forecasting over 40C in the UK,” he said. “In a recent study we found that the likelihood of extremely hot days in the UK has increased and will continue to increase over the course of the century, with the most extreme temperatures expected to be seen in the south-east of England.” The weather forecast across the UK Meanwhile, the Met Office has forecast dry weather for Wales, the Midlands, the South East and South West England on Sunday as temperatures soar to 31C. North-west and north-east England, and Scotland, are forecast to have a cloudy day, with some or scattered showers. Highs of 25C are forecast in northwest England, while the northeast and most of Scotland could see highs of 23C. Want a quick and special update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know
