Met Office shares warning to anybody thinking of leaving house on Monday or Tuesday
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The Met Office has issued a warning to anyone looking to leave their house during next week’s red and amber heat warnings. Weather experts today (Friday, July 15) issued the widespread warning to the Midlands including Birmingham.
Meteorologists have said that temperatures could reach highs of 40C in some areas. A ‘danger to life’ warning has been issued and people have been told to make sure they are hydrated.
Now Penny Endersby, Met Office Chief Executive, has told people to treat the warnings like they would a wind or snow warning and not for people to treat it as an excuse to leave their house. She warns that this is “not that sort of” weather where we go out and enjoy the sun and that “our lifestyles are not ready for what is coming”.
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She added: “Please treat the warnings we are putting out as you would for wind or snow and stay out of the sun. Keep your home cool. Think about adjusting your plans for the warning period.
“If you do have to go out, wear a hat and apply sunscreen. Keep in the shade as much as possible. Keep a look out for family and neighbours.”.
It’s the first time a red warning for heat has been issued by the Met Office wit climate change being blamed as a contributing factor Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen, added: “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, it is important people plan for the heat and consider changing their routines. This level of heat can have adverse health effects.”
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