The UK Weather Forecast Channel

BREAKING NEWS: 2022 is provisionally the warmest year on record for the UK

2022 will be the warmest year on record for the UK, according to provisional Met Office figures.

All four seasons have fallen in the top ten in a series that began in 1884 and the 10 warmest years have all occurred since 2003.

As well as setting a new 139-year annual mean temperature record, 2022 will also be remembered for several other significant weather events.

Exceptionally warm start to New Year
Storms Dudley, Eunice, and Franklin occurred within a week in February
The dry first half of the year
The record-breaking temperature at Coningsby in July
Cold spell in early December

Temperature
The warmest year on record
2022 will see the highest annual average temperature across the UK, exceeding the previous record set in 2014 when the average was 9.88C. Since 1884, all the ten years recording the highest annual temperature have occurred from 2003. The final provisional figure for 2022 will be available after the year and will then be subject to further quality control and a verification process.

2022 will also be the warmest year on record in the 364-year Central England temperature series from 1659, the world’s longest instrumental record of temperature.

Dr. Mark McCarthy is the head of the Met Office’s National Climate Information Centre. He said: “2022 is going to be the warmest year on record for the UK. While many will remember the summer’s extreme heat, what has been noteworthy this year has been the relatively consistent heat through the year, with every month except December being warmer than average.

“The warm year is in line with the genuine impacts we expect as a result of human-induced climate change. Although it doesn’t mean every year will be the warmest on record, climate change continues to increase the chances of increasingly warm years over the coming decades.”

High temperatures start the year
The year started with a mild theme with New Year’s Day the warmest on record according to maximum temperature. 16.3C was recorded at St James’s Park, London and that mild theme was replicated through much of 2022 with warmer than average days and fewer cooler than average days.

Temperatures remained above average for every month of the year in 2022, except December which has been cooler than average so far. While many will remember the unprecedented heat of July, it is the persistence of warmer-than-average conditions that have resulted in 2022 breaking the annual temperature record.

Summer temperature
The fourth warmest summer in the series for the UK was underlined with temperatures over 40C recorded in the UK for the first time. Coningsby, Lincolnshire, recorded the highest temperature, with 40.3C exceeding the previous UK record by 1.6C. The hot period in July saw the Met Office issue its first-ever red warning for extreme heat with widespread impacts for the UK. Wales also recorded a new daily maximum temperature record of 37.1C, with Scotland seeing a new record of 34.8C.

Anomalously cold start to December
2022 has seen the coldest first two weeks of December since 2010. Temperatures dropped as low as –17.3C at Braemar on 13 December as cool northerly air influenced the UK weather. Up to 27 December, the average mean temperature for the UK is just 2.4C, which is 1.8C below the average for the month.

In addition, while it wasn’t a White Christmas for the vast majority of the UK, some small amounts of snow and sleet were recorded falling on Christmas Day at some stations in the northwest of Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland, meaning it has technically been a White Christmas.

Seasons
All four seasons in 2022 were in the top 10 warmest on record for the UK. Winter was the eighth warmest, spring the fifth warmest, summer the fourth warmest, and autumn the third warmest.

Dr. Mark McCarthy continued: “2022 has been dominated by higher-than-average temperatures. The record-breaking temperatures in July have certainly boosted the overall temperature values for the year, but that isn’t the full story.

“Temperatures have been above the 1991-2020 long-term average for a large proportion of the year, and this is something that we can anticipate as we become increasingly affected by climate change. Met Office science has shown that the temperatures witnessed in mid-July would have been extremely unlikely in the pre-industrial period – the era before humanity started emitting lots of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.

“However, as we have seen in the first two weeks of December, our climate is still subject to notable cold spells during the winter season, but our observational data show these have generally become less frequent and less severe as our climate warms.”

Rainfall
Aside from the record-breaking temperatures, one of the most notable discussion points for 2022 was the dry conditions. Aside from brief spells at the beginning of January and at the end of February, the UK’s total rainfall accumulation has remained persistently below average for the year.

Summer was the tenth driest on record for the UK, with the south and east of the country especially dry. Some locations in southern and eastern England recorded virtually no rain in July, and by the conclusion of August, the year had been at its driest at that point since 1976.

Dr. Mark McCarthy added, “Despite the recent rain, the year has still been dry for much of the country, especially so in the south and east.”

Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex are all on course to record a year in their respective top 10 driest on record. The exact positioning will be dictated by how wet the conclusion to December is.

The south of England has so far had only just over three-quarters of the rainfall it would normally expect in a year.

At the other end of the scale, western areas of Scotland saw more rain on a more similar scale to long-term averages for the year, but even here many locations are likely to end the year drier than average.

The Western Isles, Perth and Kinross, Angus, and Aberdeenshire are some regions that got closest to long-term average rainfall amounts for the year.

Storms
A total of four storms were named in 2022 but three of them came in the space of a week.

Storms Dudley, Eunice, and Franklin impacted the UK in February 2022, with Storm Eunice resulting in red warnings for wind and saw a new highest maximum gust speed record for England set of 122mph at the Needles on the Isle of Wight.

Dr. Mark McCarthy said: “There’s no evidence of a trend in storminess because of climate change, but this spell of impactful weather in February is certainly noteworthy. It was the first time three named storms had impacted the UK in a week, with Eunice being particularly impactful for much of southern England and Wales.”

“It’s also noteworthy that there haven’t been any named storms to impact the UK since that week in February.”

Sunshine
Sunshine hours have been in good supply in the UK for 2022 according to provisional Met Office figures.

With a few days of December still to go, the UK has already seen 9% more sunshine hours than average for the whole of the year. This has been spurred on by areas to the south and east. East Anglia has already had 20% more sunshine hours than its average, making it the sunniest year on record for the region, with some time left in the year for that figure to increase further.

“By the start of December, the UK had already seen more sunshine hours than average for the whole of the year. The most consistently bright parts of the UK have been in the south and east. We already know that it’ll be a top 10 year for sunshine hours in the UK, with England likely to have sunshine figures in the top three sunniest years on record,” concluded Dr. Mark McCarthy.

BREAKING NEWS: Waterspout Tornado at Cornwall

The tornadic waterspout emerged off the south coast near Fowey, Cornwall, with the Met Office warning of a major change in the "weather regime" after days of the scorching sun.

A giant tornadic waterspout has emerged off the south coast as the UK is warned about further flooding and thunderstorms.

The rare weather phenomena were captured by eagle-eyed witnesses Martin Jezard and Mark McCartney near Fowey, Cornwall, on Tuesday.

They can occur when cold air moves across a body of water and results in a large temperature difference, and can last for several minutes, moving at speeds of up to 15 knots.

Waterspouts have similar characteristics to land tornadoes and are often accompanied by severe thunderstorms as well as high winds.

Martin said: "The weather is often a bit iffy during Regatta Week but this afternoon’s water spout, basically a tornado over water rather than land is next level.

"Wicked Witches of the South West beware."

BREAKING NEWS: Tentnado at Hampshire Festival

A tornado ripped through Boomtown festival sending tents, camping chairs and gazebos 60 feet into the air as the heatwave finally broke and thunderstorms lashed the UK.

BREAKING NEWS: The UK heading for days of severe thunderstorms

The UK is entering a more unsettled period of weather, with thunderstorms dominating the forecast up to Wednesday.

A number of Yellow thunderstorm warnings have been issued for the UK, highlighting the potential for frequent lightning, large hail, and flash flooding impacts from the intense rainfall which could see values of at least 50mm in a two or three-hour period in a few places.

Dan Suri is the Met Office’s chief forecaster for today. He said: “The change in weather regime will see the heat of the last few days slip away from the south and east, this will be increasingly replaced with more unsettled conditions with heavy showers, thunderstorms, and torrential downpours being key hazards over the UK until Wednesday.

“Although not all places will be affected, where thunderstorms occur there is the potential for very large rainfall totals, but when that heavy rain is falling on extremely dry ground, the risk of flash flooding is much more pronounced.

"With no meaningful rainfall in some southern locations since June, soils in these areas have become baked by the sun turning them into hard almost impenetrable surfaces. Any rainfall in these areas won’t be able to soak away and instead, it will wash off soils and other hard surfaces, creating flash flooding in some areas. This excess water can rapidly inundate some flood-prone areas. Particular areas of caution are low-lying stretches of road and those areas adjoining sloping fields where water can quickly run off, creating fast-emerging hazards.”

Today (Monday) most of the UK – part from the far north of Scotland – is covered by Yellow thunderstorm warnings, and systems can be expected to develop anywhere within the warning area. With a similar pattern expected on Tuesday, by Wednesday the focus will shift to the warnings across southern England.

WEATHER WARNING IN THE SOUTH WEST ENGLAND

Amber warning
Thunderstorm

14:00
Today

20:00
Today

Thunderstorms and heavy showers are likely to cause travel disruption and, in a few places flooding.

What to expect
Flooding of homes and businesses is likely and could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail, or strong winds
Fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life
Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely
Spray and sudden flooding probably lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
Some communities are likely to become cut off if roads flood
Power cuts are likely to occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost

Issued: 13:40 on Mon 15 Aug 2022
Thunderstorms and heavy showers currently affecting parts of southwest England are likely to persist into the early evening producing some torrential downpours. As much as 60-70 mm of rain could build up in a few places. Hail and frequent lightning are likely additional hazards in some places

This warning has a medium likelihood and impact

Amber warning
Thunderstorm

17:00
Today

22:00
Today

Thunderstorms are likely to bring torrential downpours causing travel disruption and, in a few places, flooding.

What to expect
Flooding of homes and businesses is likely and could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail, or strong winds
Fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life
Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely
Spray and sudden flooding probably lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
Some communities are likely to become cut off if roads flood
Power cuts are likely to occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost

Issued: 17:00 on Sun 14 Aug 2022
Thunderstorms currently affecting parts of Northern Ireland will produce further torrential downpours this evening. Hail and frequent lightning will be additional hazards with as much as 60 mm of rain falling in two or three hours in a few places.

Medium Likelihood and Impact in this zone in Northern Ireland

BREAKING NEWS: Extreme heat ahead of thunderstorm warnings

Yellow or Amber Thunderstorm warnings have been issued by the Met Office as the heatwave draws to a close with a thundery mix from late Sunday into the early part of next week.

The Extreme heat warning remains in place until Sunday, with much of England and Wales likely to see temperatures into the low-to-mid 30s Celsius, with an isolated 36C on Saturday and Sunday. The heat warning highlights the potential impacts these heat levels can have on health, transport, and infrastructure.

AMBER EXTREME HEAT AND THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS END LATER

YELLOW THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS REMAIN UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY

Heat Health Alert
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a Level 3 Heat Health Alert, which is designed to help healthcare professionals manage through periods of extreme weather. The Alert is in force from Tuesday through to Sunday, with the UKHSA advising people to look out for vulnerable people, including older people, young children, and those with underlying health conditions.

Dr. Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “Temperatures will feel very warm again this week, particularly in southern and central parts of the country.

“We want everyone to enjoy the warm weather safely when it arrives, but remember that heat can have a fast impact on health.

“It’s important to ensure that people who are more vulnerable – elderly people who live alone and people with underlying health conditions – are prepared for coping during the hot weather.

“The most important advice is to ensure they stay hydrated, keep cool and take steps to prevent their homes from overheating.”

Find tips for keeping cool in hot weather, as part of WeatherReady.

A hot spell will develop across parts of England and Wales later this week.

What to expect
Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat
The wider population is likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat-related illnesses
Some changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required
An increased chance that some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail.
More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes, rivers, and other beauty spots leading to an increased risk of water safety and fire-related incidents.
Some delays to road, rail, and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays

Temperatures will increase across much of the UK over the coming week. Temperatures will be highest across parts of England and Wales with these peaking on Friday and Saturday. In addition to high daytime maxima, temperatures overnight will remain very warm, especially in larger urban areas.

This warning has a Medium likelihood and impact

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/heat-health/?tab=heatHealth&season=normal

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/fire-severity-index/ #?tab=map&fcTime=1659956400&zoom=8&lon=-1.03&lat=50.89

UK Fire Severity Index - Met Office Met Office 5 day weather Fire Severity Index including weather warnings, temperature, rain, wind speed, cloud, pressure and UV index

BREAKING NEWS: Amber Extreme Heat Warning Issued by the Met Office

The Met Office has issued an Amber Extreme heat warning which will be running for 4 days from Thursday to Sunday with temperatures expected to build through the week.

The Extreme heat warning, which covers much of the southern half of England and parts of eastern Wales, will be in force from Thursday through until the end of Sunday, with possible impacts on health, transport, and infrastructure.

The heat will build through the week, peaking on Friday and Saturday thanks to the influence of high pressure positioned over the UK. Temperatures are likely to rise into the low-to-mid 30s Celsius for those within the warning area. However, temperatures are not expected to be as extreme as those experienced in July when new national records were set.

Outside the warning area, heatwave criteria are still likely to be met for much of the UK, with temperatures widely into the high 20s Celsius with a chance of a few spots seeing temperatures into the low 30s. Scotland and Northern Ireland will also see temperatures into the high 20s and could reach official heatwave criteria by Friday.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Rudman said: “Thanks to persistent high pressure over the UK, temperatures will be rising day-on-day through this week and an Extreme heat warning has been issued.

“Temperatures are expected to peak at 35C on Friday and Saturday, or even an isolated 36C on Saturday. Elsewhere will see temperatures widely into the high 20s and low 30s Celsius.

“Coupled with the high daytime temperatures there will be some warm nights, with temperatures expected not to drop below the low 20s Celsius for some areas in the south.”

National Highways Head of Road Safety, Jeremy Phillips said: “It is always very important to plan ahead for your journey and this advice remains the same during periods of hot weather. When hot weather is forecast, please remember to take plenty of drinking water with you – enough for you and your passengers. You can visit our website to find out more information about traveling during hot weather.

“We also advise everyone should check their vehicles, such as tires, coolant, and oil levels, before heading out.”

Dr. Justine Shotton, President of, the British Veterinary Association, said: “Whilst it’s wonderful to make the most of the warm weather, please don’t forget to give some extra attention to pets, many of whom may struggle as the temperature rises. Animals need extra care during the summer to keep them safe from heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke, heart conditions, breathing difficulties, and sunburn, many of which can sadly be fatal.

“Make sure animals have access to fresh drinking water, good ventilation, and shade from direct sunlight at all times. Dogs especially can overheat easily, so make sure they aren’t walked or exercised in the hottest parts of the day or left inside a hot car or conservatory for even a little while. Keep an eye out for early signs of heatstroke, such as heavy panting, drooling, restlessness, and lack of coordination, and contact a vet immediately in case you have any concerns.”

Thank you for your Understanding and Stay Safe

FIRST TIME

Impacts resulting from extreme heat
Whilst many of us like to enjoy the sunshine and hot weather, we should make sure we do it safely and remember certain groups of people are more vulnerable than others to heat.

Hot weather places a strain on the heart and lungs, for that reason, the majority of serious illnesses and deaths caused by heat are respiratory or cardiovascular. Older people, those with pre-existing health conditions, and young children are particularly at risk.

Extreme heat not only affects us but can also place strains on water and energy utilities, road and rail transport, and the health and fire services.

For summer 2021 the Extreme Heat warning will be for Medium and High likelihood of Medium and High impacts. For year one of the service, this will enable the Met Office and Public Health England Heat Health Alert service to be aligned on the colour of warnings. In 2022 and following some extreme heat weather events this will be reviewed and may change.

Very low and Low
N/A

Medium
Adverse health effects are experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat.

Some changes in working practices and daily routines may be required

Some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail, leading to power cuts and the loss of other services to some homes and businesses

Some delays to road, rail, and air travel, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience long delays.

More people visiting coastal areas, lakes, and rivers lead to a risk of water safety incidents.

High
Adverse health effects are experienced by all, not just limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life.

Changes in working practices and daily routines will be required.

Failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment with a loss of power and other essential services, such as water, electricity, gas, or mobile phone services.

Delays on roads and road closures, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, with significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays.

Significantly more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes, and rivers leading to a risk of water safety incidents.

Red warning
Extreme heat

00:00 Mon 18 to 23:59 Tue 19

An exceptional hot spell on Monday and Tuesday led to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.

What to expect
Population-wide adverse health effects are experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life. Government advice is that 999 services should be used in emergencies only; seek advice from 111 if you need non-emergency health advice.
Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines will be required
High risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, potentially leading to localized loss of power and other essential services, such as water or mobile phone services
Significantly more people visiting coastal areas, lakes, and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents
Delays on roads and road closures, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, with significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays

Issued: 10:28 on Fri 15 Jul 2022
Exceptional, perhaps record-breaking, temperatures are likely on Monday, then again on Tuesday. Nights are also likely to be exceptionally warm in the UK, especially in urban areas. This is likely to lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure. Temperatures are expected to drop away from Wednesday onwards.

This Rare Red WeatherWarning has a high likelihood and a high impact

Regions and local authorities affected:
East Midlands
Derby
Derbyshire
Leicester
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Northamptonshire
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
Rutland
East of England
Bedford
Cambridgeshire
Central Bedfordshire
Essex
Hertfordshire
Luton
Norfolk
Peterborough
Suffolk
Thurrock
London & South East England
Bracknell Forest
Buckinghamshire
Greater London
Kent
Medway
Milton Keynes
Oxfordshire
Slough
Surrey
Windsor and Maidenhead
Wokingham
North West England
Blackburn with Darwen
Cheshire East
Cheshire West and Chester
Greater Manchester
Halton
Lancashire
Merseyside
Warrington
South West England
Gloucestershire
West Midlands
Shropshire
Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent
Telford and Wrekin
Warwickshire
West Midlands Conurbation
Worcestershire
Yorkshire & Humber
East Riding of Yorkshire
North Lincolnshire
North Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
York

BREAKING NEWS: The first Red Extreme Heat Warning has been Issued.

For the first time temperatures of 40°C have been forecast in the UK and the Met Office has issued the first ever Red warning for exceptional heat.

Exceptional heat is expected to affect a large part of England early next week, with temperatures likely in the high 30s C in some places and perhaps even reaching 40°C.

The Red Extreme heat national severe weather warning will cover Monday and Tuesday (18th and 19th July) for parts of central, northern, eastern, and southeastern England. An Amber Extreme heat warning has been in place for much of England and Wales for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (17th – 19thJuly) since earlier this week. Today the amber areas are also being extended to cover Cornwall, West Wales, and parts of southern Scotland.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen, said “Exceptional, perhaps record-breaking temperatures are likely early next week, quite widely across the red warning area on Monday, and focussed a little more east and north on Tuesday. Currently, there is a 50% chance we could see temperatures top 40°C, and 80% we will see a new maximum temperature reached.

“Nights are also likely to be exceptionally warm, especially in urban areas. This is likely to lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure. Therefore, people must plan for the heat and consider changing their routines. This level of heat can have adverse health effects.”

The step up in warning level to red is running parallel to an increase in the current Heat Health Warning to Level 4 for England by the UK Health Security Agency.

The high pressure near the southern half of the UK, which has been responsible for this week’s warm weather, continues to dominate bringing largely dry and clear weather for most. However, during the weekend, a developing southerly flow will allow very high temperatures currently building over the continent to start to spread northwards into the UK. Further north, eastern areas of Scotland could see temperatures in the high 20°C in a few places, well above their average for the time of year.

Will we get record-breaking heat?

This is the first time we have forecast 40°C in the UK. The current record high temperature in the UK is 38.7°C, which was reached at Cambridge Botanic Garden on 25 July 2019.

Weather forecast models are run numerous times to help us quantify the likelihood of a particular event occurring and estimate the uncertainty which is always present in weather forecasting to some degree. Some models are now producing a 50% chance of maximum temperatures in excess of 40°C in isolated parts of the UK for the start of next week. Mid, to high, 30s Celsius will be seen more widely with an 80% chance we will exceed the current record.

What happens after Tuesday

Temperatures are expected to start to return closer to normal for the time of year from the middle of next week onwards as cooler air pushes across the country from the west.

You can find the latest forecast on our website, by following us on Twitter and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store. Keep track of current weather warnings on the weather warning page.

Is this due to climate change?

“We hoped we wouldn’t get to this situation but for the first time ever we are forecasting greater than 40°C in the UK. “Climate attribution scientist at the Met Office, Dr. Nikos Christidis, said “In a recent study we found that the likelihood of scorching days in the UK has been increasing and will continue to do so during the course of the century, with the most extreme temperatures expected to be observed in the southeast of England.

“Climate change has already influenced the likelihood of temperature extremes in the UK. The chances of seeing 40°C days in the UK could be as much as 10 times more likely in the current climate than under a natural climate unaffected by human influence. The likelihood of exceeding 40°C anywhere in the UK in a given year has also been rapidly increasing, and, even with current pledges on emissions reductions, such extremes could be taking place every 15 years in the climate of 2100.”

A recent Met Office study found that summers that see days above 40°C somewhere in the UK have a return time of 100-300 years at present, even with current pledges on emissions reductions this can decrease to 15 years by 2100.

Extreme heat events do occur within natural climate variation due to changes in global weather patterns. However, the increase in the frequency, duration, and intensity of these events over recent decades is clearly linked to the observed warming of the planet and can be attributed to human activity.

The chances of seeing 40°C days in the UK could be as much as 10 times more likely in the current climate than under a natural climate unaffected by human influence. The likelihood of exceeding 40°C anywhere in the UK in a given year has also been rapidly increasing

Whilst a 1°C background temperature increase may not seem significant, the resulting increase in the severity of extreme heat events is already evident in the observed record. This has widespread and significant impacts.

Advice

A Level 4 UK Health Security Agency Heat Health Alert has been issued for Monday and Tuesday. This is level of alert is used when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system. At this level, illness may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups.

Dr. Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “Heat-health alerts have now been issued to the majority of the country, with temperatures set to remain consistently high throughout the duration of the weekend and the start of next week.

“It is essential to keep yourself hydrated and to find shade where possible when UV rays are strongest, between 11am and 3pm.

“If you have vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors, make sure they are aware of how they can keep themselves protected from the warm weather.’’

Peter Jenkins, Director of Campaigns, Water UK said: “Water companies are seeing substantial demand during this extremely hot weather. We can all help ensure there’s enough to go around by being mindful of the amount of water we use while ensuring we stay hydrated and safe.

“By making just small changes indoors or in the garden you can have a big impact on our water consumption. Our Water’s Worth Saving campaign has a host of helpful top tips showing the simple things we can all do to save this precious resource, so it remains readily available now and in the future.”

Mel Clarke, Customer Service Director for Operations at National Highways, said: “It is always important to plan ahead for your journey and this advice is no different during periods of hot weather. Our advice is that everyone should check their vehicles, such as tires, coolant, and oil levels, before heading out.”

Find out more about driving in hot weather with National Highways.

Government advice is that 999 services should be used in emergencies only; seek advice from 111 if you need non-emergency health advice.

Top ways to stay safe when the heat arrives are to:

Look out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated. Older people, those with underlying conditions, and those who live alone are particularly at risk.
If you live alone, ask a relative or friend to phone to check that you are not having difficulties during periods of extreme heat.
Stay cool indoors: Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors.
If going outdoors, use cool spaces considerately.
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol.
Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children, or animals.
Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when the UV rays are strongest.
Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat, if you have to go out in the heat.
Avoid physical exertion in the hottest parts of the day.
Make sure you take water with you if you are traveling.
Check the latest weather forecast and temperature warnings – you can find these on TV, radio, mobile app, or website.
During warm weather going for a swim can provide much-welcomed relief. If you are going into open water to cool down, take care and follow local safety advice.