Summary

High temperatures forecast as the UK braces for a heatwave

Live Reporting

Edited by Jacqueline Howard and Emily McGarvey

  1. Temperatures of 44C forecast as Spain battles wildfires

    Guy Hedgecoe
    Reporting from Madrid

    Fire burns trees in Carcastillo, SpainGetty Images

    Fires have been raging across parts of Spain, as seen here in the town of Carcastillo in the north

    Health alerts are being issued across European countries affected by the extreme heat, as well as warnings about the threat of wildfires, which have been devastating many areas.

    Spain's state meteorological agency has issued red weather alerts in the Guadalquivir Valley, in the south, where temperatures are due to reach 44C (111F). Part of the northern Basque Country, which is usually a relatively cool region, is also on red alert, facing temperatures of 40C.

    Firefighters have been battling blazes in Ourense and León in the northeast and Tarifa in the south, causing hundreds of people to be evacuated from their homes.

    A new fire which started last night in Tres Cantos, just north of Madrid, has killed one man and caused several hundred locals to be evacuated from their homes. It has also caused damage to residential buildings, a school and a wildlife sanctuary.

    Meanwhile in Portugal, several areas across northern and central parts are on orange alert, with temperatures expected to climb into the low 40s in Beja and Évora.

    France and Italy are also facing the impact of the European heatwave.

  2. High pollution warning issued for London

    People have lunch with a sunny view of the City of London's financial district in the backgroundGetty Images

    While heat health alerts are in place across all of England today, there is also a different type of alert in the capital.

    A high pollution alert has been issued in London as strong sunshine and hot weather are expected to trigger high ozone levels, according to City Hall.

    Mete Coban, the deputy mayor for environment and energy, said London's "toxic air" is linked to around 4,000 premature deaths in the capital each year.

    "We are urging Londoners to look after themselves in this pollution alert during the hot weather, stop their engines idling, and refrain from burning wood or garden waste – all of which contribute to high levels of pollution," he said.

    London is also under an amber heat health alert.

  3. How strong will UV levels be today?

    With the hot weather comes the sunshine - and with the sunshine comes increased ultraviolet (UV) levels.

    UV is beneficial because it enables our skin to produce essential vitamin D.

    But UV exposure also carries dangers, especially at high levels, with increased risks of skin cancer.

    Levels of UV radiation vary throughout the day, usually peaking around late morning and early afternoon.

    And today is no different, with levels expected to be high (6-7) in the early afternoon across much of England, Wales and Scotland.

    Graphic showing the different levels of UV and when protection is required. Title: What are the different UV levels? 11+: Extremely high, extra protection required. 8-10: very high, extra protection required. 6-7: high, protection required. 3-5: medium, protection required. 1-2: low, no protection required. Source is the World Health Organization

  4. Hosepipe bans - what are they, and am I affected?

    A woman using a hosepipe in a gardenEPA

    A hosepipe ban - also known as a Temporary Use Ban - is a restriction on using hosepipes. Water companies bring them in to save water if they're struggling to keep up with demand.

    This is to conserve water for drinking, the vulnerable and other essential uses. People found to be using a hosepipe during a ban can be fined up to £1,000.

    Under a hosepipe ban, you are not allowed to:

    • Water your garden or plants (other than with a watering can or bucket)
    • Wash vehicles, paths, patios or windows
    • Fill swimming pools, paddling pools or hot tubs

    Is anyone exempt?

    Yes - there are quite a few. Full lists can be found on the websites of each individual water company, but they include people who are registered disabled and businesses that rely on hosepipes.

    What areas are affected?

  5. Will there be a drought where I live?

    Low water levels at Howden Reservoir in Bamford, EnglandGetty Images

    Low water levels could be seen at Howden Reservoir in Bamford, England

    Millions of people in England are in regions hit by drought, and other parts of England are at risk of following if dry weather continues, the Environment Agency says.

    Aberdeenshire and Lothian in Scotland and western areas of Wales are also being closely monitored amid low water levels, according to water companies there.

    There is no single definition of drought, but it is ultimately caused by a prolonged period of low rainfall, and a decision to declare drought is taken based on an assessment of current water levels and long-term weather forecasts.

    It is a public sign that water companies might introduce restrictions on water use, such as hosepipe bans, if they aren't already in place.

    So how is your area doing and how close are you to a drought? Check out what's happening around the country, including to rain, rivers and reservoirs.

  6. What can London learn from Seville on heatwaves?

    Tom Edwards
    Environment correspondent

    A cyclist in the streets of Seville, with a temperature sign showing 46 degrees on the pavementGetty Images

    As London faces more extreme heat, is there anything it could learn from Seville - one of the hottest cities in Europe, with the temperatures becoming more severe?

    Dr Mehri Khosravi, a heat expert at the University of East London, says Londoners need to change their attitude to extreme heat, and we can learn from our continental neighbours.

    "We need to adapt in terms of building design. But we need to adapt our behaviour especially in the UK where the culture of heat is missing," she says.

    "People in the UK treat heat as a nice thing - they arrange BBQs and leisure activities but we need to start treating as a risk like they do in other countries."

    She cites measures other countries take such as pausing some activities in the hottest hours of the day, closing windows and shutting curtains to keep the heat out, and using night time for ventilation.

  8. England's heat health alerts to continue until tomorrow evening

    Sabitha Prasher
    BBC Weather

    A woman walking her dog on Tooting Bec Common in LondonPA Media

    These amber heat health alerts that just came into effect stretch across the Midlands, East Anglia, London and South East England from 09:00 BST today until 18:00 tomorrow.

    Those yellow alerts for North East England, North West England, Yorkshire, Humber and South West England are in place for that same period, too.

    Elsewhere, temperatures across Scotland and Northern Ireland could reach 23-26C today, maybe up to 28C in eastern Scotland and the Borders.

    For some parts of England and Wales, today is the peak of this week's heat and the third day of temperatures reaching heatwave criteria, with some locations expected to reach 34C.

    Other parts of the UK will meet their heatwave thresholds on Wednesday although it will be a little cooler for some spots.

    The heat will ease for most on Thursday as thunderstorms roll in, bringing less humid air into Friday.

  9. Heat health alerts in effect for England

    The UK Health Security Agency has issued heat health alerts for all of England - which have just come into effect and last until tomorrow evening.

    Amber alerts are in place for London, the South East, East of England, East Midlands and West Midlands.

    While the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and the South West are under a yellow alert.

    These alerts are a sort of early warning system for health and social care professionals who are in the frontline when it comes to dealing with heat-related health risks, especially for vulnerable people. Starting at yellow, the alerts can be escalated to amber or the most severe, red.

    We have some tips and advice on how to keep cool in a heatwave, including avoiding being too active or in direct sun between 11am and 3pm when the heat is at its peak, making sure you're hydrated, keeping windows in the sunshine closed and using fans correctly to circulate cooler air.

    Graphic showing what the adverse weather health alert levels mean in the UK. Green: No alert as conditions are likely to have minimal impact on heath. Yellow: adverse weather likely to affect vulnerable groups. Amber: Conditions could affect whole population and the NHS. Travel disruption likely. Red: Significant risk to life. Threat to critical infrastructure.
  10. Analysis

    Climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense

    Justin Rowlatt
    Climate editor

    A woman wipes her face amid a heatwave, while she is sat on a wooden bench and wearing a blue peaked capEPA

    Get used to the kind of heat you will be experiencing today because climate change is making heatwaves both more frequent and more intense.

    That’s not just true here in the UK, but all around the world.

    The emissions created when we burn fossil fuels and cut down forests, together with the other greenhouse gases we release, are trapped in the atmosphere where they act like a blanket around the Earth, warming it up.

    Scientists say virtually every heatwave will have been made hotter, longer and more dangerous because of this human-caused climate change.

    At the same time, our cities also tend to concentrate heat, which can worsen the impact of heatwaves in urban areas.

    Dark surfaces like roads and buildings absorb and retain more heat and can increase temperatures by as much as 3 degrees Celsius.

  11. Watch: A hot and sunny forecast for much of the country

    With temperatures in parts of England set to get up to 34C, here's weather presenter Carol Kirkwood with the latest weather forecast for the day:

  12. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke - signs you're overheating

    During hot weather, it’s easy to overheat, which can sometimes lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

    Heat exhaustion isn’t usually serious as long as you can cool down. But heatstroke is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment.

    Older adults, young children and people with long-term health conditions are especially at risk.

    Here are the symptoms to watch out for:

    Graphic showing symptoms of heat exhaustion (feeling dizzy, excessive sweating, clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps) and heatstroke (feeling confused, no sweating, temperature over 40C, hot, dry skin, Nausea or vomiting, may lose consciousness or experience convulsions or seizures)

  13. How can you stay safe during hot weather?

    • Stay indoors between 11:00-15:00 BST (these tend to be the hottest hours of the day)
    • When outdoors, wear sunscreen and other protective clothing like hats or sunglasses
    • Shutting windows or curtains that face the sun can help keep your home cool – for the experimental, try out one university lecturer's method of smearing yoghurt on the outside of windows
    • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and limiting the amount of alcohol you consume
    • Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke – and seek medical attention if you think you need it

  14. Is it too hot to work (legally speaking)?

    Woman stands in a professional kitchen, with her head raised against her head to wipe sweat from her foreheadGetty Images

    It may well feel unfair to have to go to work in extreme heat - but it isn't illegal.

    There's no law setting a maximum working temperature, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety.

    But employers must follow health and safety at work law, which includes:

    • Keeping the temperature at a comfortable level
    • Providing clean and fresh air

    Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers must:

    • Assess the risks to workers
    • Put controls in place to protect them

    Heat is classed as a hazard and comes with legal obligations like any other hazard. Workers are entitled to an environment where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled.

  15. People are becoming better at adapting to hot weather - UKHSA consultant

    A woman walks along the waterside in Hyde Park shaded by an umbrellaPA Media

    Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in public health at the UK Health Security Agency, which issued today's heat alerts, has been speaking to the BBC.

    He says climate projections show that in future years, the UK can expect to see longer and hotter summers, but there are already signs that people are becoming more aware of the dangers.

    "I think the really reassuring thing is that it does seem to be that people are adapting better to it," he tells the BBC.

    "While I think we will see more of it in the future, it seems that people are making the right decisions in protecting themselves from the impacts of hot weather."

    The UKHSA says it's important to take precautions during periods of hot weather, particularly those who are vulnerable.

    For more information on heat alerts, check out the UKHSA's website.

  17. Which parts of England are in drought?

    It has been the driest start to a year in England since 1976, with much of the country in a state of drought.

    Here are the affected areas, mapped by the Environment Agency:

    Drought

    • Cumbria & Lancashire
    • Greater Manchester Merseyside & Cheshire
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands

    Areas in prolonged dry weather

    • North East
    • Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
    • East Anglia
    • Thames
    • Wessex
    • Solent and South Downs

    South East Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water have all introduced hosepipe bans this summer due to a lack of rain and increased demand for water during extended spells of warm weather.

    These hosepipe bans, also called Temporary Use Bans, are impacting 8.5 million households.

  18. ‘Nationally significant incident’ over water shortfall

    Mark Poynting
    Climate reporter

    The Environment Agency says that the current shortfall of water across England now qualifies as a “nationally significant incident”.

    The term reflects the impacts on the environment, such as river and reservoir levels.

    It is also based on the number of areas impacted, with most of the country in a state of drought or prolonged dry weather – the category below drought.

    It follows England’s driest spring – March, April and May – for more than 100 years, according to the Met Office.

    July rainfall was close to average, albeit with some variability across the country.

    That has helped to ensure no new regions have entered a status of drought since the Midlands on 15 July.

  19. Watch: Flames near Madrid as wildfires burn across Spain and Portugal

    Emergency crews have been battling multiple wildfires across Spain and Portugal, as a heatwave hits Europe.

    Firefighters worked through the night on Monday in an effort to contain a blaze burning in the municipality of Tres Cantos, located 23km north of Madrid.

  20. Southern Europe in grip of heatwave with wildfires flaring across the continent

    Three men stand in front of a blazing wildfire in PortugalGetty Images

    Nearly 700 firefighters have been tackling wildfires in Portugal since the weekend

    The UK isn't alone in sizzling under a heatwave this week - parts of southern Europe are sweltering too as temperatures pass into the 40Cs.

    In Italy, a young boy died of heatstroke on Monday, after being found unconscious in his family's car in Sardinia.

    And across the country, 11 cities have been given a "level three" risk warning for today by the Italian health ministry. This means that in major cities like Bologna and Milan, "emergency conditions" are in place and residents are warned to avoid exposure to the sun between 11:00 and 18:00 - the hottest parts of the day.

    Meanwhile in northern Spain, firefighters have been grappling with a fire near a Unesco-listed national park, with high temperatures and strong winds forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate.

    Over the weekend, Trancoso in Portugal has also seen a huge blaze, with more than 650 firefighters and six aircraft tackling wildfires, according to AFP news agency.