It’s hotting up once again, and although we’ve had a little bit of relief in the way of rain here in Greater Manchester, we’re not likely to see more any time soon. In fact, we seem to be just on the border of an amber weather warning for extreme heat, issued by the Met Office.
The amber weather warning for Thursday 13 August covers the area from South London, to Birmingham and outside of Cambridge, up to just above Doncaster – just catching the likes of Buxton, stopping outside Glossop. This means that Greater Manchester is not in the amber weather warning zone, however being so close to it means we do need to take care.
Met Office weather forecast
Following a warm night, a spell of very hot weather will affect England on Thursday. The highest temperatures will be in parts of the east, southeast and the Midlands, where 37 or even 38 Celsius could be reached. This may lead to impacts on transport, infrastructure and health.
The amber weather warning means that very high temperatures may lead to impacts on Thursday. Here’s what the Met Office advises:
What should I 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
- Some heat sensitive systems and equipment may fail, with the potential for some power cuts and the loss of other services to some homes and businesses.
- More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents
- Some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays
Met Office advice on how to stay cool
1. Keeping yourself cool
The heat can affect your health and make you feel unwell, there are many simple things you can do to keep yourself safe:
- Keep out of the sun and avoid any exercise between 11am to 3pm when the sun is the strongest
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Close your curtains in rooms that face the sun
- If you are going out, take water with you, keep in the shade, wear sunscreen and wear a wide brimmed hat
2. Keeping cool on public transport
Make the most of the weather by staying well whilst using public transport. Follow these easy tips to keep cool:
- Carry some water with you and drink lots of fluids
- If you feel unwell get off at next stop for some fresh air
- Dress light, choose light fabrics in light colours
- Help others – for anyone struggling, ice packs/cold compresses to wrists, neck, elbows can help them cool down quickly
- Take a small hand-held battery fan
3. Stay safe in the water
If you’re planning on enjoying the water, here are 3 simple ways you can help keep yourself safer:
- Check the water temperature, our seas and river temperatures are low enough to cause cold water shock when 15°C or lower
- Wear a wetsuit if you plan on spending any length of time in the water
- Wearing a life jacket or swimming buoy can increase your chances if you experience cold water shock
4. Looking after others
Help to protect the vulnerable people that you know, including older people, those with underlying conditions and those who live alone. They may need support to keep cool and hydrated. For more advice visit the NHS website.
