Heatwave? We are only warming up
Health experts urge use of common sense and skin protection to help cope with heatwave conditions
HAPPY children soaked up the sun yesterday as schools in England broke up for the summer holidays.
Weather forecasters said they could have the hottest spell of the year to look forward to, as the heatwave shows no signs of breaking.
After isolated downpours yesterday and today, the UK is expected to see temperatures rise again, with a possible maximum of 91.4F (33C) in the South East.
The Met Office has warned that the UK will continue to experience hot temperatures well into next month.
It said yesterday: “There’s some uncertainty about how hot it will get but it could be the hottest spell of the year so far, especially for the South East.”
Ladbrokes is offering odds of 1-5 on the hottest summer on record, as well as 4-6 on a new temperature record before the end of the month.
The UK as a whole had just 19.5 per cent of expected summer rainfall between June 1 and July 16.
A SUNBURN warning has been issued for the UK after a dramatic rise in people being admitted to hospital as Britain struggles to cope with the heatwave.
Public Health England has urged people who go out in the sun to “use common sense” and protect themselves from damaging UV rays, after 220 casualties were treated in hospital in Northern Ireland over the past two months.
The health agency in Ireland warned that one episode of sunburn could double the risk of malignant melanoma, after the Belfast Trust saw the highest number of patients, with 69 needing treatment for sunburn.
There are worries that more could be admitted to hospital across the UK as the hot weather shows no sign of ending. Forecasters have warned that next week could be the hottest yet of the summer, with highs of 91.4F (33C) in the South East by the end of the week.
Prof John O’hagan, of Public Health England, said: “Our advice is to think about what you’re doing in the sun and use some common sense – know the limits of your own skin, don’t stay out in strong sunshine for too long, wear wraparound sunglasses, wear a hat, cover up with light clothing and, if you need to, seek shade during the hottest parts of the day and use sunscreen that’s at least factor 15, which also has good UV-A protection.”
The British Skin Foundation (BSF) has said British people are missing crucial areas when they apply suncream, putting them at risk of skin cancer.
Forgotten areas include the backs of the knees, the ears, underarms and around the hairline.
Matthew Patey, chief executive of BSF, said: “The rise in hospital admissions for sunburn isn’t surprising as the heatwave continues. However, it is avoidable and by following a few simple steps, people can prevent not only a visit to A&E but also the harmful longterm effects of sun exposure.
“If outdoors, it is advisable to wear loose fitting clothing and to use an SPF 30-plus sunscreen with UVA/UVB protection on exposed areas of skin. Wear a hat and always seek out shade especially during the hottest times.
“Children especially must be protected from the sun and wear an SPF 50 sunscreen with UVA/UVB protection. Those below the age of three should be kept out of direct sunlight altogether. Remember to regularly reapply sunscreen and stay hydrated. People should enjoy the [weather] but always respect the sun and their skin at the same time.”
More than a quarter of British people, 27 per cent, do not wear suncream at all, a Yougov study has found. Most of those who do stick to factor 30 (26 per cent) and just 9 per cent go as low as 15.
Temperatures are expected to hit 86F (30C) today, with the Met Office predicting a record summer if trends continue.
TWO satellite images just released by the Met Office confirm the impact of the great heatwave of 2018. The first, taken in May, shows our typically green and pleasant land. The second, taken this month, reveals apart from a small patch in the south-east, Cornwall and the North East, England has turned entirely brown.
Two photographs, but in truth the evidence of the ongoing heatwave is everywhere. Take, for instance, the image of a wheat field in Clacton in Essex, with deep cracks running through the mud, which was doing the rounds on social media yesterday.
Apparently, it has been 38 days since the last rain in the area, when a meagre 0.5mm fell.
For an actual meaningful rain shower, Clacton residents must cast their minds back a full 52 days. A few days ago, the Met Office revealed it has been the driest start to summer since modern records began 57 years ago.
Taking the summer as a whole (June, July and August) across the UK, 1995 is the driest on record (dating back to 1910) with a total rainfall over the full three months of 103mm (4in).
The average daily maximum temperature across the country since June 1 has been 69.6F (20.9C) – just below the 69.8F (21C) recorded in 1976, the hottest summer on record.
The UK has seen just 47mm of rainfall during that period, prompting water companies in the North West to announce a hosepipe ban, set to come into effect next month.
Yesterday’s thunderstorms will help, but there is a long way to go. Indeed, according to the Met Office, if rainfall was average for the next month and a half then by the end of August, we would be up to 174mm.
Even that would mean this summer makes it into the top 10 list of the driest summers of all time. These weather records are tumbling like dominoes.