Hotter than Spain! Sun-seekers set to enjoy glorious 30C blast

2023-06-09

Hotter than Spain! Sun-seekers set to enjoy glorious 30C blast as ‘Iberian Plume’ sweeps Britain today and Met Office issues amber alert warning people to watch out for heatstroke as temperatures surge

Britain set for temperatures of 30C this weekend because of ‘Iberian Plume’

Brits are set to enjoy a glorious bout of warm weather today as temperatures surge.

The Met Office issued an amber alert warning people to watch out for heatstroke ahead of 30C temperatures when an ‘Iberian Plume’ sweeps the country.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has upgraded an alert for hot weather in five regions of the country as warnings have also been issued for thunderstorms over the weekend.

Parts of the country are predicted to be hotter than Marbella, Ibiza and Tenerife in the coming days as a ‘plume of warm air’ moves in from the south, with temperatures likely to soar to 28C.

The UKHSA initially issued yellow warnings for parts of England on Wednesday and has now raised the level to amber for the West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, South East and South West.

DORSET: Sunbathers on the beach enjoying the scorching hot sunshine and clear blue skies at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis

People at Apppleby Horse Fair were enjoying Thursday’s warm temperatures on the first day of the fair

The mercury is set to reach the high 20s in parts of the UK today (left). Tomorrow (right) temperatures will be even higher, the Met Office predicted

DORSET: A couple with a dog sitting outside a colourful seafront beach hut while enjoying the scorching hot sunshine in Lyme Regis

LONDON: A group of people relaxing in the sunshine in Victoria Tower Gardens yesterday

LONDON: Friends meet for a picnic in Green Park as Britain basks in hot weather

It means the impact of the heat is ‘likely to be felt across the whole health service… and the wider population, not just the most vulnerable’.

Yellow alerts are less serious, and are used to warn that there may be some disruption to services due to weather conditions.

A further yellow alert was issued by the UKHSA on Thursday for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber regions of England, while a yellow alert for London issued on Wednesday remains in place.

All alerts come into force from 9am on Friday June 9, to 9am on Monday June 12.

Dr Agostinho Sousa from the UKHSA said: ‘In the coming days we are likely to experience our first sustained period of hot weather of the year so far, so it’s important that everyone ensures they keep hydrated and cool while enjoying the sun.

‘Forecasted temperatures this week will primarily impact those over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

‘If you have friends, family or neighbours who you know are more vulnerable to the effects of hot weather, it is important you check in on them.

‘You should ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.’

Meanwhile, the Met Office said most of Wales is set to see ‘long sunny spells’ on Friday, before temperatures climb to 25C over the weekend when there will be ‘thundery’ showers.

LONDON: Sunbathers lying on the grass in Green Park yesterday

DORSET: Jake Mowbray and Ella Bowden cool off at Shaftesbury Lido

A heat health warning over the weekend for parts of England has been upgraded from yellow to amber by the UK Health Security Agency

A 30C heatwave forecast to scorch England and Wales this weekend may also feature thunderstorms

A yellow alert was also issued by the Met Office on Thursday for thunderstorms, covering Wales and south and western England, between 2pm and 9pm on Saturday June 10.

The weekend’s high temperatures are expected to trigger showers, the Met Office said, some of which could be ‘torrential and thundery’, with more than 30-40mm potentially falling within an hour.

Rain, hail, wind and lightning are also predicted to hit some areas, although others parts of the country will see no rain at all.

Sunseekers packed out Britain’s beauty spots yesterday to bathe in 24C sunshine while revellers flock to Download music festival ahead of this weekend’s hot weather.

Revellers basked in the sun on Thursday as they arrived at Download Festival, in Castle Donnington, while sunbathers were seen in Green Park, London.

Oliver Clayden, from the Met Office, said there could be some travel disruption over the weekend.

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He said: ‘After a prolonged dry spell there is a chance of surface water flooding.

‘There could be some surface water issues that could cause travel disruptions as well as the high gusts across parts of the country.’

Mr Clayden added: ‘This is going to be the warmest weekend of the year, which is to be expected as we go into summer.

‘This weekend will also see hail mixed in with strong gusts of wind and rain hit parts of the country.’

The Met Office defines a heatwave as when a location records a period for at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.

The threshold varies by UK county, ranging between 25C and 28C in areas in England and Wales.

Dan Harris, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘Temperatures will rise later this week and into the weekend, with a plume of warm air being drawn in from the south.

‘Temperatures over the weekend could peak (at) around 30C in some parts of England and remain well above average overnight through the weekend.

‘Coupled with the rise in temperatures is an increase in the likelihood of some potentially heavy and thundery showers, which could bring some localised disruption for some from late on Friday and into the weekend.’

And experts have warned households to consider rocketing electricity prices when reaching for a fan as the year’s first heatwave arrives.

The cost of keeping cool has risen by more than 75 per cent in the past two years as prices have soared during the energy crisis.

Tips for keeping cool in the heat that won’t break the bank

As the year’s first heat health alert was issued ahead of a forecast 30C heatwave in England and Wales, uSwitch calculated the two million UK households with an air conditioning unit face a £71 million weekly energy bill.

Natalie Mathie, energy spokeswoman at uSwitch.com, said: ‘Energy prices may be falling on July 1, but costs can still add up when trying to stay cool in a heatwave, especially if your air conditioning unit is running around the clock.

‘Most people don’t need to rely on energy guzzling gadgets to keep cool as there are a few simple tricks you can use to keep the temperature down inside.’

Ms Mathie’s three key tips are: Only let cold air in, keep hot air out and limit solar gain – the heat that’s generated through sunlight hitting windows.

Top tips for staying cool:

Set fans on the ground floor and point towards a far wall with no large objects in the way – to bounce cooler air back into the room
Open windows on opposite walls or at opposite ends of the house to create a cross-breeze
Open windows and night and close them during the day
Keep curtains, blinds and windows shut when the sun is shining directly on them
Fill a hot water bottle with cold water and freeze it
Freeze your pillow cases so they are cold for going to bed

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