Are you ready for blistering Britain?
Warning of threat to life as mercury climbs to record high
SCOTLAND is facing potentially life-threatening extreme heat next week as Britain braces for its hottest-ever day.
A national emergency has been declared in England after the firstever red warning was issued for severe hot weather.
An amber warning is also in force in southern Scotland on Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures are expected to top 30C (86F).
A Scottish Government resilience meeting was held yesterday to prepare for the potential impacts of the dangerously hot weather.
People could develop serious illness or even die as a result of the conditions and are likely to experience ‘adverse health effects’ even if not in vulnerable groups.
The consequences of England’s worsening heatwave are likely to be even more devastating, as people are expected to lose their lives and death or illness could strike the ‘fit and healthy’.
Record-breaking temperatures as high as 41C (106F) could occur around London early next week, and the Met Office chief
SURGING demand for air conditioning units, paddling pools and fans has created a shortage in stores with many listed as ‘out of stock’.
Sales of air conditioning units are up by 525 per cent on this time last year, according to John Lewis. Paddling pool sales are up by 478 per cent and fans by 25 per cent.
A spokesman for the retailer said: ‘With everyone looking to keep cool during the hot weather, we have seen excellent sales.’
executive Penny Endersby warned of ‘absolutely unprecedented’ conditions.
She added: ‘Here in the UK we’re used to treating a hot spell as a chance to go and play in the sun.
‘This is not that sort of weather. Our lifestyles and our infrastructure are not adapted to what is coming.’
A red warning for extreme heat means population-wide adverse health effects will be experienced, ‘not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life.’
Under an amber warning, the same consequences are ‘likely to be experienced’.
Both mean people could die because of the blistering heat, with the UK Health Security Agency issuing a level four warning in England, stating: ‘Illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy – and not just in high-risk groups.’
Roads could melt, speed restrictions will be in place on the railways as tracks may buckle and the RAC is expecting more than 1,000 extra breakdowns a day from cars overheating.
Train operators have urged people not to travel unless their journey is ‘absolutely necessary’.
Safety warnings have been issued by HM Coastguard amid fears that sweltering sunseekers could jump into water from piers or rocks or venture out on unsafe inflatables during the heatwave.
Scots also have been warned not to fill paddling pools or use garden hoses amid fears of water shortages.
Water use across the country soared during the hot weather last weekend as Scots used an extra 200million litres in their homes and gardens in just two days.
Drought alert warnings in parts of the country have now been raised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), which said the ‘situation continues to deteriorate’.
Slightly cooler weather is forecast from Wednesday, but no significant rainfall has been forecast to ease the scarcity of water.
Reservoir and river levels have dwindled during the dry weather, and groundwater supplies in some areas are ‘falling and very low’.
Scottish Water has urged customers to reduce unnecessary water use in an attempt to ‘maintain normal supplies’.
Road tankers have already been used to deliver extra water to Arran, as along with the east of Scotland, the island has seen an increase in use.
Kes Juskowiak, Scottish Water’s water operations manager, said: ‘We will continue to monitor our reservoirs and other water sources closely. Continued warm weather, a lack of rainfall and continued high use levels in the home and garden could put pressure on supplies in the days and weeks ahead.’
Eight parts of eastern Scotland, including the catchments for the Dee, Firth of Forth, Almond and Tyne, are now classed as ‘moderate scarcity’, the second highest level of drought risk by Sepa.
Four other areas, including the Clyde, were raised to the ‘alert’ category.
Sepa’s head of water and planning, Nathan Crichlow-Watton, said: ‘The situation continues to deteriorate in the east of the country, with most areas now in “alert” or “moderate scarcity” level.