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Heat-Health Alerts issued by UKHSA and the Met Office

Regular updates on the Heat-Health Alerts (HHAs) issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office.

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published
8 June 2023
Last updated
11 September 2023 — See all updates

Latest update

As of Sunday 10 September, the amber heat-health alert (HHA) has been extended for East of England, South East of England and London following a risk assessment between the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office.

The amber HHA will now end at 9am on Tuesday 12 September. The alert had previously been issued until 9pm on Sunday 10 September.

Previous

5 September 2023

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued an amber heat-health alert (HHA) in 8 regions of England.

The regions included in the amber alert are:

  • London
  • South East
  • South West
  • North West
  • East Midlands
  • West Midlands
  • East of England
  • Yorkshire and the Humber

The alert is currently in place from 12 noon on Tuesday 5 September to 9pm on Sunday 10 September. The Met Office has forecast temperatures exceeding 30°C. Under the new HHA system introduced by UKHSA and the Met Office, an amber alert means that weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service. At this level, we may begin to see some health impacts across the wider population, and an increase in risk to health for individuals aged over 65 years or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:

Many of us will welcome the hot weather for the coming days, but it is important to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun and look out for those who are more vulnerable to the effects of heat.

We advise you to check on older family members, friends, or neighbours and those with heart or lung conditions.

Staying hydrated and keeping cool is crucial for everyone during hot weather, while enjoying the sun.

Additionally, there are ways in which you can keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather, such as:

  • knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them
  • keeping out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
  • if you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler, such as the morning or evening
  • keeping your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
  • if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing, such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, and seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly

6 July 2023

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued a yellow heat-health alert (HHA) in 6 regions of England.

The regions included in the yellow alert are:

  • London
  • South East
  • East Midlands
  • West Midlands
  • East of England
  • Yorkshire and the Humber

The alert is currently in place from 12 noon on Friday 7 July to 9am on Sunday 9 July. The Met Office has forecast temperatures of 27°C to 28°C on Friday and around 30°C on Saturday. The forecasted high temperatures will be short lived, followed by thunderstorms, but if reached it is likely that there will be some impacts across the health and social care sector.

Under the new HHA system introduced by UKHSA and the Met Office, a yellow alert means that any impacts likely include the increased use of health care services by vulnerable populations and an increase in risk to health for individuals aged over 65 years or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:

This weekend it’s important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.

The forecasted high temperatures are expected to be short lived, but could primarily impact those over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions. If you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Dan Harris, said:

Temperatures will be on the rise from Friday, with a plume of continental air allowing temperatures to reach, and perhaps locally exceed, 30°C in parts of England on Friday and Saturday. In addition, temperatures overnight will remain high, especially in towns and cities, which will make for an uncomfortably warm night for some.

Temperatures are likely to start to drop from the west on Saturday and more widely into Sunday, as showers and thunderstorms sweep north-east across the country.

21 June 2023

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued a yellow heat-health alert (HHA) in 7 regions of England. The alert is currently in place from 9am on Friday 23 June to 9am on Monday 26 June.

The regions included in the yellow alert are:

  • London
  • South East
  • South West
  • East Midlands
  • West Midlands
  • East of England
  • Yorkshire and the Humber

Under the new HHA system introduced by UKHSA and the Met Office, a yellow alert means that any impacts include the increased use of health care services by vulnerable populations and an increase in risk to health for individuals over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:

This heat-health alert means that in the coming days we are likely to experience another sustained period of hot weather, so it’s important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.

Forecasted temperatures this week could primarily impact those over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions. If you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.

Here are the ways in which you can keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather:

  • check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you
  • know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them
  • keep out of the direct sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
  • if you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercise or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening
  • keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
  • if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly
  • drink plenty of fluids and limit your alcohol intake

16 June 2023

As of Friday 16 June, the yellow heat-health alert in place across England will now end at 9am on Saturday 17 June following a risk assessment between the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office. The alert had previously been issued until 9am on Monday 19 June.

13 June 2023

As of Tuesday 13 June, the HHAs issued by UKHSA have been extended until 9am on Monday 19 June.

All regions of England have been placed under a yellow alert for this period. Five regions were previously under an amber alert from Friday 9 June until 9am this morning and have been de-escalated to yellow.

Under the new HHA system introduced by UKHSA and the Met Office, a yellow alert means that any impacts include the increased use of health care services by vulnerable populations and an increase in risk to health for individuals over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

9 June 2023

As of Friday 9 June, the Heat-Health Alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency have been extended until 9am on Tuesday 13 June. Five regions of England are under an amber alert, while a further 4 are currently under a yellow alert.

8 June 2023

The yellow alert issued yesterday by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office has been escalated to an amber alert in 5 regions:

  • West Midlands
  • East Midlands
  • East of England
  • South East
  • South West

The decision to move to an amber alert has been made due to latest Met Office forecasts, which indicate there is a high likelihood that forecasted temperatures will be reached rapidly over the weekend in these regions, while we are also likely to see high overnight temperatures. An amber alert indicates that weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, and at this level we may begin to see some health impacts across the wider population, not just the most vulnerable.

As of today, a yellow alert has also been issued in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber regions of England. London remains at this level. Both alerts remain in place from 9am on Friday 9 June to 9am on Monday 12 June.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms in a number of regions from 2pm to 9pm on Saturday.

7 June 2023

First Heat-Health Alert of the year issued by UKHSA and the Met Office

The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued the first heat-health alert of the year, in 6 regions of England.

The regions included in the yellow alert are:

  • London
  • East Midlands
  • West Midlands
  • East of England
  • South East
  • South West

The alert is currently in place from 9am on Friday 9 June to 9am on Monday 12 June, and if current forecasted temperatures are reached it is likely that there could be some impacts across the health and social care sector.

Under the new HHA system introduced by UKHSA and the Met Office, a yellow alert means that any impacts include the increased use of health care services by vulnerable populations and an increase in risk to health for individuals over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. There is also the potential for indoor environments, including health and care settings, to become very warm.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at 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 and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.

Here are the ways in which you can keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather:

  • check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you
  • know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them
  • keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
  • if you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercise or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening
  • keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
  • if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly
  • drink plenty of fluids and limit your alcohol intake

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 around 30°C 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, though it is not possible to be definitive about exact details this far from the potential event.

Further information

As part of the launch of the Adverse Weather and Health Plan, UKHSA has updated its guidance on staying safe in hot weather.

At the start of June, our new HHA system in partnership with the Met Office went live. Stay across the alerts that have been issued in your region.

Read the UKHSA blog post on staying safe during periods of extreme weather.

For more information on the common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, visit NHS.UK.

The Met Office has published advice on how to plan for the heat.

Updates to this page

Published 8 June 2023
Last updated 11 September 2023 + show all updates

  1. Added latest update.

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  3. First published.