Severe Heatwave Hits England, Expanding Health Alert Nationwide

(MENAFN) A severe heatwave continues to scorch the UK, with vast sections of England now under heightened health warnings as temperatures soar.

On Monday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) broadened its amber heat-health alert, adding more areas to the warning zone as temperatures climb to 33°C. These conditions are making the UK hotter than popular tourist destinations like Mexico, Barbados, and Jamaica.

The Met Office predicts the heat will linger through Monday and Tuesday, with some areas in central and eastern England potentially seeing temperatures rise to 34°C or even 35°C.

If temperatures hit those marks, it would be only the fourth time since the 1930s that June in Britain has experienced such extreme heat, though the all-time record of 35.6°C from 1976 is expected to remain unbroken.

"Temperatures are rising further today with low 30 Celsius widely across England," said Paul Gundersen, Met Office chief meteorologist. "These high temperatures and humid conditions will be quite uncomfortable for those working outside as well as people leaving Glastonbury and attending the start of Wimbledon and other outdoor events."

While southeast England saw temperatures peak at 31°C on Sunday, Tuesday could see even more intense heat, with London and the southeast possibly reaching 35°C, according to the Met Office.

An amber alert under the Weather-Health Alert system signals that weather conditions are likely to have widespread impacts on the healthcare system.

This heatwave alert, in effect since Friday, covers much of England and will continue through Tuesday. The UKHSA warns that the high temperatures are expected to strain health and social services, particularly affecting older individuals and those with underlying health issues, including respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

Meanwhile, Europe's heatwaves are also intensifying. In southern Spain's Andalucia region, temperatures reached 46°C on Saturday, and central Portugal's Mora recorded a scorching 46.6°C on Sunday.

Experts continue to sound alarms over the growing frequency and intensity of such extreme heat events due to climate change.

"We're likely to see more heat-related deaths and broader impacts -- on water supply, transport, and even building usability," said Shona Koren Paterson, director of Global Lives Research Centre at Brunel University of London. She also highlighted the mental health toll, noting that issues like anxiety and depression are often exacerbated by such conditions.

Akshay Deoras, a research scientist at the University of Reading, explained that global warming is strengthening heat domes—high-pressure systems that trap heat, leading to prolonged and severe heatwaves. "The Earth is warmer than before, making heatwaves more frequent and severe whenever heat domes form," he added.

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