A heat alert has been issued for the majority of the country with the mercury set to remain “steadily high” throughout next week. A computer model has shown that temperatures could potentially even reach 40 C (104 F) by mid-July – although forecasters have expressed reservations about this. Parents and carers are urged not to allow children to be in the sun for long periods – and to “ensure they are covered with a high factor sun cream”. The UK Health Safety Authority (UKHSA) and the Met Office have put a level 3 alert in place for the East of England, the South East and London with highs of 32C (89F) currently forecast. A level 2 alert has been issued for the South West, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions. A level 2 alert is issued when there is a “high probability” of the predicted conditions, while a level 3 means there is a “90% chance”. The notices will be in effect from 9am Monday to 9am Friday. Sheffield Children’s Hospital has appealed to people to ‘keep your children safe’ during the coming heatwave. “The first sign that a child is overheating is when they become fussy or complain of a headache,” the NHS Foundation Trust posted on Twitter. “Get them to a shady place that’s as cool as possible. Take off what clothes you can, give them water to drink and let them rest,” he added. The UKHSA advised people to drink plenty of fluids and avoid excessive alcohol consumption over the next week. Physical exercise should be avoided during the hottest part of the day – and people should monitor the vulnerable and the elderly who find the heat particularly challenging. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said high temperatures were forecast for a “prolonged period”. He said: “Heat warnings have been issued for the majority of the country today, with temperatures set to remain consistently high throughout next week. “Most of us can enjoy the warm weather when it arrives, but it’s important to keep yourself hydrated and find shade where possible when UV rays are strongest, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. “If you have vulnerable family, friends and neighbors, make sure they know how they can protect themselves from the hot weather.” “Potentially a relatively long period of warm weather” Meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said: “We are at the start of what is likely to be a relatively long period of warm weather for much of the UK away from the far north west where it is likely to be a bit cooler and cloudier.” The hottest day of the year so far was during the last heat wave on June 17, when the temperature reached 32.7 degrees Celsius (90 F). Ms Shuttleworth added that temperatures will be “closer” to this year’s high in London and South East Europe early next week. Parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland will also see calm weather, with Aberdeenshire and Fife temperatures could be close to 27C or 28C, with 25C (77F) expected across Northern Ireland. Read more: Find out the latest forecasts for your area Hot summer days will also usher in warm and “sticky” nights. Ms Shuttleworth urged Britons to “keep curtains closed during the day, especially if you have a south-facing bedroom” and “keep ventilation around your house”. The hot weather looks set to stick around for a while longer, according to Met Office forecasts. The average temperature for July is around 20C (68F). Watch the Daily Climate Show at 3.30pm Monday to Friday and The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm and 7.30pm. All on Sky News, the Sky News website and app, YouTube and Twitter. The show explores how global warming is changing our landscape and highlights solutions to the crisis.
