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Heatwave is leading us into public health crisis as hottest day ever looms

July 26, 2018

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With potentially record-breaking high temperatures in the coming days, the Government is being warned it must do more to protect vulnerable people in extreme heat.

The mercury is set to hit 35°C on Thursday and rise further to 37°C on Friday, triggering a thunderstorm warning into the afternoon.

There is a chance the high temperatures could even beat the all-time UK record of 38.5°C, the Met Office has said.

Heatwave is leading us into public health crisis as hottest day ever looms — National Womens Surf Champion Lucy Campbell aged 23, enjoy the hot weather at the Woolacombe beach in Devon (Picture: SWNS)

Tourists enjoying the sunshine whilst visiting Bibury which is one the the most picturesque villages the Cotswolds has to offer. July 17, 2018. — Tourists enjoying the sunshine whilst visiting Bibury which is one the the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds (Picture: SWNS)

Weather forecast Thursday 26 July (Picture: Met Office) — Forecasters say today could be the hottest day of the year so far (Picture: Met Office)

The forecasters yellow weather warning for torrential downpours, accompanied by hail and strong gusts on Friday afternoon and into the evening, has been extended to cover the south east of England, as well as northern and eastern parts of the country.

A mix of toxic air, extreme highs, emissions from the continent and a lack of cloud cover have caused a high air pollution alert to be issued for London.

Air quality alerts will be displayed at bus stops, river piers, on busy roads and at the entrances to London Underground stations on Thursday.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: This is the second time in six months that we have had to use the “high” alert system and shows just why air pollution is a public health crisis.

Children, the elderly and people with lung or heart problems have been advised to reduce strenuous exercise and physical exertion.

People enjoying the heatwave today on Bournemouth beach in Dorset as the hot weather continues across the UK, marking the driest start to a summer since modern records began in 1961. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July 25, 2018. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire — People enjoying the heatwave today on Bournemouth beach in Dorset as the hot weather continues across the UK (Picture: PA)

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been urged to set out what measures he is taking to make sure the NHS can cope with the heatwave.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said hospitals are facing year-round pressures, saying the traditional lull in NHS activity during the quieter summer months is a thing of the past.

Blood supplies have dropped, health officials have said, saying some people have been too dehydrated to donate while others have chosen to stay in the sun.

MPs have warned heat-related deaths will treble by mid-century unless the Government takes action to tackle the dangers of soaring summer temperatures.

Without the Government developing a strategy to protect vulnerable people, such as the elderly, numbers dying from the heat could rise to 7,000 a year by 2050, a report from the parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee said.

People enjoying the heatwave today on Tynemouth beach on North Tyneside as the hot weather continues across the UK, marking the driest start to a summer since modern records began in 1961. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July, 25, 2018. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire — People enjoying the heatwave on Tynemouth beach on North Tyneside (Picture: PA)

Burnt out combine harvester. Farmers are falling foul of the summer heatwave after two expensive combine harvesters were spotted on fire. Two ??140,000 machines were left completely burnt out as farmers - in different countries - struggled to tend their crops in the heat. See story NNCOMBINE. Stunning drone footage shows one smouldering farm machine in Wiltshire, while firefighters in Worcestershire were unable to save another combine. In the drone footage, the massive vehicle can be seen charred and blackened - transforming the field into what appears like a war zone. The combine harvester was found on Boston Manor Farm, which belongs to farmer Bob Frearson, who lives and works in Wiltshire. He said: "We don't know what caused it - the combine harvester just caught fire and burnt itself out, this kind of thing is rare. — It proved too much for this combine harvester which set on fire (Picture: SWNS)

The committee called on the Government to take action to ensure homes, hospitals, care homes, offices, cities, water supplies and transport networks can cope with rising temperatures.

Scientists have warned that climate change is making such heat extremes more likely, and the report comes as northern Europe swelters in a prolonged heatwave.

Wildfires in Greece have claimed the lives of at least 80 people, including Irishman Brian OCallaghan-Westropp, who was there on honeymoon.

He and his new wife Zoe Holohan, who is in hospital after suffering burns to her head and hands, had flown to Greece on Saturday following their wedding in Co Meath two days earlier.

An amber heat health watch warning remains in place for parts of England, with people being warned to try to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm.

Howden Reservoir's water level dramatically low after a prolonged heat wave, July 25 2018. The baked mud floor can be seen as water levels continue to fall in many of the Uk's reservoirs, prompting hose pipe bans in North West England. — Howden Reservoirs water level is dramatically low after the prolonged heatwave (Picture: SWNS)

Following the driest first half of summer on record, farming leaders warned crops are being hit and livestock are having to be fed with feed that should be held for winter as grasslands are parched.

The dry spell has been most prolonged in East Anglia and south-east England where the last day of very widespread rainfall was seen on May 29.

Firefighters have urged the public to avoid careless and reckless behaviour during the ongoing heatwave as crews across the country deal with a high number of field fires.

The thunderstorms could lead to flooding of homes and businesses, difficult driving conditions and potential power cuts, the Met Office warned.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have been experiencing recent temperatures nearer normal for the time of year.

Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: If youre looking for somewhere to escape the heat, western and northern areas will have pleasantly warm mid 20s Celsius, although across Northern Ireland and western Scotland this may be accompanied by occasionally cloudy skies.