- Public Health England issues a ‘level two heat health alert’ with temperatures expected to soar to 32C tomorrow
- Quango’s top ten tips to stay cool include switching off lights and wearing light, loose-fitting cotton clothes
- Met Office also issues severe weather alerts for rain covering most of England, Wales and Scotland on Saturday
- Temperatures forecast to reach possible heatwave conditions tomorrow, beating 2014 high of 28.7C set on July 4
- Britain expected to be slightly warmer than European holiday destinations such as Crete (30C) and Ibiza (29C)
- ‘Spanish Plume’ sees hot and humid air from central Spanish plateau colliding with cool and wet Atlantic winds
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Health officials were last night accused of patronising the public as Britain prepares for a heatwave.
With temperatures expected to soar to 32C (90F) tomorrow, Public Health England issued a ‘level two heat health alert’ and published a list of advice to ‘keep people safe’.
The quango’s top ten tips include advising people to keep cool by switching off their lights and other electrical items, wearing light, loose-fitting cotton clothes and drinking ‘lots of cool drinks’.
Scroll down for video
Starting out: The sun rises today over the clubhouse during day one of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, Merseyside
Splashing about: Daryl Packman, 19, Leah Wood, 19, Charlotte Burfield, 18, and Mille Hart, 19, cool off on West Wittering beach in West Sussex
Capturing the moment: Madison Musselwhite and Leah Goodspeed take a selfie with an iPhone at Southsea, Hampshire
Hot weather: Two women relax and sunbathing on Brighton beach at lunchtime. Temperatures in parts of the South-East are expected to hit 30C
Deckchair time: Thousands of people pile on to Brighton seafront and its pier in East Sussex to cool off as temperatures remain high and are set to rocket
Dog walkers: Two women take the opportunity to take the dog for a walk as well as enjoy a picnic in the sweltering heat at St James Park
Paddle boarders: A couple keep cool by undertaking some urban paddle boarding along Regent’s Canal in London
While some took the opportunity to settle in and work on their tan at St James’ Park, others on a work break were just as keen to catch some sun
Two Londoners kick back and enjoy the warm weather and sunshine in style – relaxing on deck chairs with a drink at St James’ Park
Bookworms: A couple of readers relaxing in the sunshine with their feet up at St James’s Park
Public Health England’s officials were accused of
patronising the public by giving obvious, and sometimes bizarre, advice.
John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw, said: ‘We don’t need this
patronising nonsense, there is plenty of common sense out there.
‘People
will know exactly what to do when it gets hot – they will probably
relax with a cool beer and enjoy the weather. I will certainly not be
taking their advice, I will be turning on my television and opening a
beer from the fridge.’
The
exceptionally hot conditions are expected to start this evening and
continue until Saturday, with risk of surface flooding as thunder storms
sweep across the country.
It will be the first official
heatwave in a year. Public Health England (PHE) said its heat alert
applied to most of southern England, East Anglia and the Midlands, the
first time since last July that such a warning has been issued.
The alert is automatically triggered
when there is a 60 per cent chance that temperatures will breach 30C
(86F) over two consecutive days and not dip below 15C (59F) at night.
Forecasters say it will be exceptionally hot and sticky, with little
respite at night.Â
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Getting outside: Two women sunbathe on Brighton beach in East Sussex at lunchtime
A group pictured sunbathing seaside at Brighton in temperatures which, at their peak, hit 27.4C yesterday
The Brighton jetty was a hive of activity as kids cooled off by practicing their jumps, dives, bombs and ‘tombstones’ into the water below
X factor and Big Brother contestant Frankie Cocozza was also spotted out enjoying the weather with a group of friends on Brighton beach
Brighton beach was chaotic yesterday as thousands travelled seaside to take advantage of what could be the start of a heatwave across parts of the UK
Looking at a phone: Two friends enjoy the sun in Green Park, central London, as Britain basks in beautiful weather
It wasn’t just locals thrilled with the warm weather – tourists were quick to grab a seat for the afternoon on one of the Thames River sightseeing boat rides
Enjoying it: Henry and Sophie Ball, both five, laugh as they each hold an ice-cream in high temperatures at Southsea, Hampshire
Thunderstorms
likely: The conditions are being created by a ‘Spanish Plume’ – hot and
humid air from the central Spanish plateau colliding with cool and wet
Atlantic winds. The top image show the forecast jet stream at 1am
yesterday, with an obvious kink over the north-east of the US. The
bottom image, for 1am on Saturday, shows a kink now over Spain, with
warm air from that region flowing towards the UK
Hospitals
have been warned to expect rising admissions.
The 2003 heatwave is
thought to have caused the deaths of 2,000 people in England and in July
2009 a four-day hot spell killed 300.
Dr Paul Cosford, director for
health protection at PHE, said: ‘While many enjoy hot weather, high
temperatures can be dangerous, especially for older people, young
children and those with serious illnesses.
‘Everyone
can enjoy the sun safely by keeping out of the heat at the hottest time
of the day, avoiding sunburn and staying hydrated with plenty of cool
drinks.’
He added: ‘Try to
keep your bedroom and living space cool, by closing the curtains on
windows that receive the sun and opening your windows at cooler times of
the day and overnight when you can.
‘Turn
off non-essential lights and electrical items as these generate heat.’
Over the next three days: Forecasters say it will be exceptionally hot and sticky, with little respite at night
Building sandcastles: Ivy Panton, two, plays on West Wittering Beach in West Sussex as temperatures are set to hit 30C later this week
Glistening water: Three women enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Southsea, Hampshire
Summertime: Two young women enjoy ice cream at Trafalgar Square on a sunny and hot day in central London
Capital sun: A family went to the South Bank for sunbathing sessions on Blackfriars beach in central London
Getting wet: Families play in the fountains outside the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, central London
Tower Bridge in the background: Office workers enjoy the sunshine during their lunch break on a hot day on the steps of the London Assembly
Enjoying a glass: Two women with straw hats sit on a punt on the River Cam in Cambridge
Sit back and relax: Zachary Case, three,
relishes the sunny weather at Boscombe beach in Dorset (left), while a
woman sunbathes at London’s Hampstead Heath (right)
Packed in: People enjoy the sun on Hampstead Heath in north-west London as the temperature is set to soar
But Dia Chakravarty, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign group, said:
‘This seems like yet another example of penpushers making work for the
sake of it.
‘Taxpayers will
be right to ask how on earth this is a good use of their hard-earned
cash, which they hand over to the Treasury in expectation of essential
front-line services, not to be wasted on bureaucrats telling them to
keep out of the sun to stay cool.’
The
Met Office said the conditions were being created by a ‘Spanish Plume’ –
hot and humid air from the central Spanish plateau colliding with cool
and wet Atlantic winds. When the two air masses hit thunder storms are
likely.
As a result, the Met Office has also put
in place severe weather alerts for rain covering most of England, Wales
and Scotland on Saturday.
The Met Office said: ‘Significant
flooding is possible where these do occur from surface water as well as
small, fast responding watercourses.
‘The frequent lightning, hail and strong gusts could also be an additional hazard. The public should be aware of the risk of disruption from any of these elements.’
In the shadows: Commuters head to work along the South Bank in central London
Public Health England’s tips for staying cool during the potential heatwave, left, have been labelled as patronising, while today’s Pugh cartoon, right, features a rather unusual way of cooling down
Graphics: After a very hot Friday (left), thunderstorms will be present over parts of England on Friday night and through Saturday, as this MetDesk map (right) shows
Maps: The Met Office has a severe weather
warning in place for Saturday (left). The Environment Agency had one flood alert out yesterday (right), for the River Thames
Watch out: The Met Office has issued a Level 2 heat-health alert, warning of a 60 per cent chance of heatwave conditions between 8am on Friday and 8am on Sunday
Famous view: Sunbathers pack Brighton beach in East Sussex at lunchtime
Selfie time: A woman takes a photograph of herself in Green Park, central London
Summer treat: Mwana, a baby gorilla, cools down with a specially-made fruit ice lolley at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey
Getting to grips with it: A saki monkey cools down with one of the ice lollies at Chessington, made from freezing fresh fruit
Cute: A squirrel monkey cools down with one of the ‘ice lollies’ at Chessington, designed to make meal times more fun and engaging
The stormy conditions will dampen the mood during what is likely to be the warmest spell of the year so far.
Temperatures
will start to rise from today, peaking on Friday when the 30C
barrier could be reached for the first time this year.
The most likely location somewhere to the north-west of London.
Meanwhile, a survey by PetSafe found 45 per cent of pet owners in the UK don’t know how much water to give their pet.
A
spokesman for the pet product firm said: ‘Keeping your pet hydrated and
cool in the heat is essential for their health and well-being.
‘Dehydration
is a serious health issue for many pets and can lead to numerous
problems such as urinary tract infections and kidney disease.
‘If
you feel your dog or cat is suffering from any of the conditions
mentioned make sure you seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.’
Siblings: Dylan, 11, Hayley, eight, and Zachary, three enjoy the warm weather at Boscombe beach in Dorset
Somersault: A punt operator cools down in the River Cam in Cambridge on a warm midweek afternoon in Britain
Deckchair and a can of coke: A man lies on the beach on a hot day at Southend-on-Sea in Essex
Sunbathing: People relax on the beach in Folkestone, Kent, during the fine weather
Sun cream: The Met Office has issued a Level 2 heat-health alert, warning of a 60 per cent chance of heatwave conditions. Hampstead Heath is pictured
Enjoying the weather: A young woman sunbathes while reading a book on a hot and sunny day in Regent’s Park, central London
Under her umbrella: Rebecca Clarke, hostess for jet manufacturer Sukhoi, shields herself from the sun at the Farnborough International Airshow
Soaking up the sun: Another woman enjoys the weather in central London while relaxing at Regent’s Park
Cooling down: Billy the eagle owl has a shower from his owner in Havant, Hampshire (left), and a woman shades herself with a fan on Westminster Bridge (right)
Nice day for it: Two women take part in a session of yoga at Regent’s Park in central London
Going for a run: A female jogger in central London (left) and members of the public enjoy the sun along the South Bank (right)
Sunglasses and parasols: Hundreds of people headed to Brighton seafront to cool off as temperatures remain high
It’s a beautiful day: Two women smile in a punt on the picturesque River Cam in Cambridge
Making the most of it: A woman reads a book with her feet up on a deckchair in Green Park, central London
Getting in the water: People enjoy the sun on Hampstead Heath in north-west London as the temperature is set to soar
Lovely day: Two men relax on the beach in Folkestone, Kent, during the fine weather
Diving in: A woman jumps into the water on Hampstead Heath in north-west London as the temperature is set to soar
Looking far: Walkers enjoy the view across the English Channel from the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent, as temperatures are set to soar
London sun: Commuters head to work across Westminster Bridge this morning with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in the background
Reading in the sun: A young woman enjoys the sun on Hampstead Heath
On the beach: People at the Adventure Island theme park and on the sand in Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Stepping up: Commuters head towards the South Bank in central London in the sun, with temperatures set to hit 30C on Friday
Tower Bridge in view: People sunbathe and enjoy the warm weather in central London
Punting on the River Cam: People enjoy the beautiful weather in Cambridge – but by Saturday it will be pouring with rain
Not much space: This part of Hampstead Heath was packed with sun-seekers yesterday as the temperature is set to soar
Animal magic: Mwana, the baby gorilla, cools down with an ice lolly at Chessington in Surrey (left), while Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea is pictured (right)
City skyline: There were only a few spaces left on these steps at lunchtime in central London
WHAT IS A ‘SPANISH PLUME’? A CATCHY NAME FOR A RATHER COMPLEX SET OF CONDITIONS, SAYS THE MET OFFICE
By THE MET OFFICE
Over the next few days increasingly warm and humid air moving up from the continent will see UK temperatures on the rise, with the warmest days of the year so far expected.
Temperatures in the South-East of the country could climb to the low 30s Celsius by Friday, while other parts of England and Wales are likely to see temperatures in the mid to high 20s.
These very warm conditions will be accompanied by a close and humid feel in the air, which could make it feel quite uncomfortably warm in places – particularly during the nights.
In a line: Daryl Packman, 19, Leah Wood, 19, Charlotte Burfield, 18, and Mille Hart, 19, sit on West Wittering beach in West Sussex
Warm weather: A group of women enjoy the view across the channel from the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent
Sitting down: A man and woman enjoy the sun on deckchairs in Green Park, central London
Fun in the sun: Sunseekers enjoy the weather on the beach at Southend-on-Sea, Essex, with the long pier visible in the background
While there is a good deal of dry and
fine weather in the next few days, there is also the chance of seeing
some heavy rain and thunderstorms as we go into the weekend.
Friday may see an area of thundery showers moving north east across parts of England and Wales.
Our meteorologists are also keeping a very close eye on the potential for more widespread thundery downpours on Saturday.
These
could develop from what meteorologists call a ‘Spanish Plume’, which is
a catchy name for a rather complex set of conditions.
It
involves very warm and humid air moving up from the Spanish plateau to
the UK. If this meets cooler air from the Atlantic, the warm air can be
forced rapidly upwards to produce thunderstorms.
There
are a number of ingredients that all have to come in to place for this
to happen, however, so the risk of disruption from any heavy, thundery
downpours is low for Saturday at the moment rather than a certainty. A
yellow alert has been issued for this risk and will be updated in the
coming days.
Soaking up the rays: People relax and sunbathe on Brighton beach at lunchtime
What a view: A man looks at the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent – and with temperatures are set to soar, health officials have urged people to take care in the summer heat
Looking out to sea: A hot day at the beach in Southend-on-Sea, Essex
You can keep up to date with how this situation develops by checking our forecasts and warnings over the next few days.
Interestingly,
the warm weather we’re expecting can be traced back to the jet stream, a
narrow band of fast moving winds high up in the atmosphere which forms
where cooler air from the polar region meets warmer air from the
tropics.
The jet stream has
dipped south over north eastern parts of the US, allowing cooler air to
flood in over the area and bringing much lower temperatures than usual
for this time of year.
This
kink in the jet stream causes a knock-on effect which pushes the cooler
air south across the Atlantic, which in turn pushes the warm humid air
over the continent (around Spain) towards the UK later this week.
This
provides yet further proof of the way in which all weather is
connected, but there are no hard and fast rules as to how events in one
part of the world will affect us here in the UK.
Reproduced with permission from the Met Office
or comment on this article
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The comments below have not been moderated.
Hannah.35,
Uk,
moments ago
Is there laws against taking photos of young lady’s in their bikinis with out their permission, if not then there should be.
kimmy,
Costa Blanca, Spain,
moments ago
LOL
FromMe,
NorthEast, United Kingdom,
moments ago
It’s not patronising at all. Lights generate heat. Common sense to turn them off to keep your rooms cooler
steveh2731,
MALVERN, United Kingdom,
moments ago
I don’t see anything wrong with the pictures, well done to the DM for showing real young ladies and not the stick thin, emaciated variety that you on the front cover of fashion mags.
Andreas May,
Karlsruhe, Germany,
5 minutes ago
England: scorchio
Bill,
London, United Kingdom,
9 minutes ago
Its typical of the patronising, nannying, interfering attitude of our institutions and government. And it is getting worse by the day.
george99,
Essex, United Kingdom,
9 minutes ago
I invested in a mobile Air-Conditioning unit some years back – and it is a god send when it get uncomfortably warm.
Karyn,
Somewhere uk, United Kingdom,
9 minutes ago
open windows at night!!! a burglars dream and invite, doh!! i think i will stick to my cool air conditioning unit
Cheeky31982,
Madrid, Spain,
10 minutes ago
Try 37 – 39. Moan moan moan moan
Magda,
Paris, France,
10 minutes ago
I turned off the lights… but turned on the fan!
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