Britons have been urged to stay indoors as the UK braces for “ferocious” temperatures in excess of 40C, with parts of the country already under the first red extreme heat warning.
A national state of emergency has been declared amid the threat of major disruption as schools close, hospitals cancel appointments and events are cancelled.
The past week has seen high temperatures across Britain, but Met Office forecasters have issued a red warning for Monday and Tuesday in a sign the mercury could soar even higher.
Find out the five-day forecast for where you live
How to stay safe in the heat – official advice
Avoid the sun between 11:00 and 15:00 and avoid physical exertion
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excessive alcohol
Draw the curtains in rooms that face the sun
Never leave anyone in a parked car – and check on elderly and vulnerable neighbours
Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen, and wear a wide-brimmed hat
Check that medicines can be stored according to instructions – and check that your fridges, freezers and fans are working properly
For more tips on how to stay cool, click here
Experts say there is now an 80% chance of a new temperature record being set, surpassing the 38.7C (101.7F) set in 2019, and a 50% chance of highs reaching over 40C (104F).
Read more: What a level 4 heatwave means for the UK
In a stark and dramatic warning, Met Office chief Penny Endersby said in a broadcast: “The extreme heat we are forecasting at the moment is absolutely unprecedented.
“Here in the UK we are used to treating the hot spell as an opportunity to go and play in the sun. This is not that kind of weather. Our way of life and infrastructure are not adapted to what is coming.
“Please treat the warnings we send out as seriously as you would a red or amber wind or snow warning and follow the advice.”
Her warning was echoed by College of Paramedics chief executive Tracey Nicholls, who said the “brutal heat” the UK is expected to experience over the next few days could lead to deaths.
She told Sunday’s Sophy Ridge On Sky News programme: “It’s not like a lovely hot day where we can put on some sun cream and go out and enjoy a swim and a meal out.
“It’s serious heat that can end up killing people because it’s so fierce. We’re just not ready for that kind of heat in this country.”
The UK’s Health Security Agency raised its heat health warning to level 4 – a “national emergency” – on Friday.
Level 4 is reached when “the heat wave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend beyond the health and social care system”.
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1:52 Doctors’ top tips for keeping your cool
The Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning for most of England, extending to southern Scotland and Wales from Monday to Tuesday.
A red alert was also issued across much of England, from London to Manchester and York on Monday and Tuesday.
Read more: Why Britain’s cities need radical change
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1:12 A sleep expert’s tip for hot nights
Blame for the UK’s extreme heat has been pointed squarely at climate change by various scientists.
Met Office climate attribution scientist Dr Nikos Christidis said Tuesday’s forecast of over 40C was a result of the changing climate.
Read more: ‘It’s no longer denial… it’s here’ – Why climate change will make this heatwave more dangerous
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