The first ever amber warning for “extreme heat” has been issued for Northern Ireland.
It takes effect over the coming days.
And if what the Met Office has predicted comes as pass, then the 31.2 degrees clocked in Ballywaticock might seem like small change.
On Monday, the Met Office, in collaboration with public health partners, issued its first ever extreme heat warning as western areas are expected to see unusually high and prolonged temperatures until the end of the day on Thursday.
An amber extreme heat warning has now also been issued for Northern Ireland from Wednesday morning through to midnight on Friday.
From 8am on Wednesday through to midnight on Friday, the warning is temperatures could reach up to 33C in isolated places.
The warnings come as the forecast continues to signal for unusually high temperatures for western areas in particular, as well as continuing high nighttime temperatures creating potential impacts for health. The prolonged nature of the current heatwave has also been a factor for the increased impacts from this continued heat.
The impacts of extreme heat can be many and varied. It can have health consequences, especially for those who are particularly vulnerable, and it can impact infrastructure, including transport and energy, as well as the wider business community. During hot weather there’s often increased traffic near coastal areas, increased use of open water by the public, and an increase in wildfire risk.
Much of the UK has been in heatwave conditions in recent days, but temperatures are expected to climb further early this week, possibly reaching 33C in some western areas, but widely high 20s and low 30s elsewhere.
The Extreme Heat Warning coincides with an extension to Public Health England’s Heat Health Alert through to Friday, reflecting the risks to the health sector in England.
Dr Owen Landeg, Scientific and Technical Lead at PHE, said: “Everybody can be affected by high temperatures and most people are aware of good health advice for coping with hot weather. However, it’s important to keep checking on those who are most vulnerable such as older people and those with heart or lung conditions.
“As we experience the first hot weather episode of the year, it’s important for everyone to remember to adapt their behaviours. This is particularly important during the pandemic with many people self-isolating.
“Most of us want to enjoy the sun. Remember to look out for signs of heat exhaustion and follow our simple health advice to beat the heat.”
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The Amber Extreme Heat Warning from the Met Office is the first one that has been issued. Find out why we’ve launched an extreme heat warning service.
Get tips for keeping cool in hot weather with WeatherReady.
