Heatwave: Warnings issued in South East over extreme heat

Crowds flocked to Brighton beach on Friday as red and amber heat warnings were issued for the South East

People across the South East have been told to take precautions as temperatures rise across the region.

The Met Office has issued its first ever red warning for extreme heat, which points to a risk to health.

The warning includes parts of Surrey and Kent. Temperatures could hit 40C (104F) on Monday and Tuesday.

The NHS in Sussex urged people to "stay safe", and said "significant numbers" had been admitted to hospital amid high demand for its services.

There have been concerns about pressure on the NHS during the extreme weather and the UK Health Security Agency upgraded its health heat alert level to four on Friday.

Dame Eileen Sills, chief nurse at NHS Kent and Medway, said: "By taking simple precautions, such as staying hydrated and finding shade during the hottest parts of the day, you can significantly reduce the risk of becoming ill and needing the services of the NHS."

Dr Anjan Ghosh, Kent County Council director for public health, said: "In extreme heat, it is vital that people think carefully about what they need to do to protect themselves, their family and particularly vulnerable people."

Analysis

by Sarah Keith-Lucas, BBC Weather

Temperatures in the South East are going to be building day-on-day for four days - peaking Monday and Tuesday with temperatures possibly in excess of 37C (98.6F).

We could see the highest temperature ever recorded in the region - which currently stands at 38.5C (101.3F) in Faversham in 2003.

The reason for the intense heat is low pressure to the south west and high pressure to the east which is drawing in exceptionally hot air that has been sitting across Spain and Portugal.

The nights will also be extremely hot - perhaps not falling lower than the mid twenties - so there is little relief from the severe, persistent heat.

Transport disruption is very likely as well due to power cuts. Temperatures are expected to drop away from Wednesday onwards.

Southeastern, Southern, Thameslink and the Gatwick Express said train services may be disrupted on Monday and Tuesday, and that passengers should only travel if necessary.

The hot weather has forced some schools across the South East to announce closures on both days, including Oxted School in Surrey and Steyning Grammar in West Sussex.

The highest recorded temperature in the UK was 38.7C (101.6F) in Cambridge in 2019.

Last week the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) handled more than 18,500 emergency calls and the extreme heat is expected to see demand increase further.

Emma Williams, executive director of operations for Secamb said: "Emergency departments in hospitals are already full. The next four days are going to be critical.

"We ask the public to only use the emergency services if you really need us."

People across the South East are being advised to avoid the extreme heat

A spokesperson for the Sussex Health and Care Partnership said: "We urge residents to look out for older people and the very young who can be seriously affected by the heat."

Surrey Police says it is expecting its roads to be "busier than normal" this weekend.

A spokesman said: "Please plan for this and think carefully before you drive. Pack plenty of water and snacks and avoid the hottest times of day."

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West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is warning people to remove glass and mirrored objects from the view of windows.

A spokesman said: "The weather is getting hotter and as such the risk of these fires will increase over the coming days."

South East Water, which has 2.2m customers across the South East, says it could break a record for water consumption next week.

Its average consumption per day is 540m litres, but it expects that figure to pass 700m litres next week.

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