Heatwave forecast triggers the first UK alert over health fears

Met Office uses government warning system to put hospitals on standby for a rush of heatstroke cases

Hospitals were put on high alert today as the Met Office issued its first ever heatwave warning, designed to signal impending extreme weather events. Temperatures are forecast to reach 33C this week and it is thought that the UK could be placed on the highest level of the government's Heatwave Plan by midweek, a category that denotes a state of "emergency".

As temperatures peaked at 28C in London today the Health Protection Agency began monitoring for cases of "heat-related illness", particularly among the elderly, and the NHS prepared for increased admissions. The country was placed on amber level 2, the "alert and readiness" category in the Heatwave Plan, meaning there is a 60% risk of high temperatures being reached in at least one region on consecutive days and the intervening night.

Met Office experts expect level 3 to be reached early on Monday and level 4 possibly by midweek. Level 4 is the highest rung and in effect denotes a state of emergency. The government defines this as when a "heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside health and social care, such as power or water shortages, and/or where the integrity of health and social care systems is threatened".

Met Office forecaster Tim Thorne said: "This is the first time we have released a heat warning since we introduced the system a couple of years ago. It is designed to allow the NHS to plan for increased admissions and ensure it does not buckle under the strain. They can get their plans in place and ensure they have the space and manning to deal with an increase and notify other organisations such as the military."

Heatstroke, exhaustion and dizziness are among the risks associated with the heatwave, which will bring the hottest spell of the summer so far, say health experts.

At Wimbledon today the sunshine guaranteed brisk business as officials said the weather had helped it to record one of the busiest Saturdays most could recall. Steward Peter Wagstaffe said: "It's not only the hottest Saturday, it's the busiest I can remember. We had 2,200 camping here overnight. I honestly can't recall a day like it so far."

More than 500 people have succumbed to the hot weather at SW19 and needed treatment from the St John Ambulance in the first week of the tournament, but paramedics said the majority of today's visitors had heeded weather advice. Darron Hazleby, silver commander with the St John Ambulance inside Wimbledon, said: "Most people are sensible enough: drink fluids, use sunscreen. I don't think the heat will be a problem."

However, the soaring temperatures claimed a number of victims en route to the All England Club, with reports of several passengers fainting on crowded underground trains.

For the 180,000 people at Glastonbury festival, there was continued respite from the heavy downpours on Thursday night as sunny intervals dried out the traditional mudbaths. Paul Mott, of forecaster Meteogroup, said temperatures at the festival reached 24C yesterday and said today would be "very dry and warm with some chance of showers".

London, eastern England, the south west, the south east and the Midlands are the most likely areas to be affected, with temperatures expected to reach 30C on Monday and climbing as high as 32C by Wednesday.

Night-time temperatures could remain as high as 18C in some areas and in London fall no lower than 20C. The record for the hottest day in Britain is unlikely to be beaten, however. The temperature rose to 38.1C in Gravesend, Kent, during the summer of 2003, which inspired the introduction of the government's Heatwave Plan.

Medical experts noted that deaths among people over 75 rose 60% during that period, with around 2,000 people dying from heat-related conditions. In the plan's foreword, chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson says that the future is likely to be characterised by frequent heatwaves of similar intensity. "By the 2080s, it is predicted that an event similar to that experienced in England in 2003 will happen every year."

The Department of Health warned that the elderly and young children are most at risk from heatstroke. "Keeping the home as cool as possible and remembering the needs of friends, relatives and neighbours who could be at risk is essential," a statement said.

The hottest day of the year so far was recorded last Thursday at Heathrow, when the mercury reached 28C, a far cry from last year. Thorne said: "This time last year I remember going to Wales and lighting a fire."

However, the Met Office forecasters do not envisage anything as severe as the heatwave that is causing havoc in India, where hot weather has claimed the lives of nearly 100 people and schools in Delhi are to remain shut.


Extreme conditions

August 2003
The highest temperatures ever recorded in the UK culminated in a British record of 38.1C at Gravesend, Kent. There were thousands of deaths as Europe had its hottest summer in at least 500 years.

Great storm of 1987
On the night of 15 October parts of the UK were rocked by winds of up to 115mph. The storm caused widespread devastation and killed 18 people.

Summer 1976
Otherwise known as the great drought, the heatwave began on 23 June and for the next fortnight temperatures reached 32C in southern England.

Summer 1903
The wettest summer on record. In mid-June it rained without interruption for more than 58 hours. Fields were flooded, hay and fruit rotted, and cattle and sheep drowned.


_{Bron: Guardian} | Gewijzigd: 28 juni 2009, 10:11 uur, door Marga

Heatwave to go on until weekend

Britain's heatwave will go on until the weekend, raising the possibility that the official "watch level" could be raised to protect vulnerable people. The Met Office Heat-Health Watch is at Level 2 but that may be raised if officials and weather experts agree certain criteria has been met. Tuesday was the hottest day of the year so far with a temperature of 31.8C (89.2F) recorded. Meanwhile, the government has set up a heatwave advice page on its website. If the watch level is raised to Level 3, then specific actions to target high-risk groups will be carried out.

Susan Powell, of the BBC Weather Centre, said it was possible that the watch level could be raised. Wednesday is expected to see temperatures in the 30Cs again in large parts of central and eastern England, particularly East Anglia and south-east England. There may be lower temperatures in other parts of the UK due to cloud and the threat of showers. Ms Powell said that coastal areas in East Anglia, and in Kent and Essex, may be slightly cooler. She said temperatures would drop by the weekend, but added that they would remain "above average". The government's heatwave advice includes general tips on how to cope as well as offering advice for employers and drivers.

Tennis effect
NHS Direct took 378 calls on Monday from people with symptoms caused by the high temperatures. Meanwhile, the TUC said staff should be encouraged to wear shorts to work to make conditions more bearable. In Scotland, four dogs have died after being left in hot cars in the Highlands. The Scottish SPCA said two of the dead animals were found in the same vehicle in Inverness. Zoos are also taking special measures to keep their animals cool.

_{Bron: BBC}