- After weather authorities issued their first-ever red warning for extreme heat this week, the UK government has held an emergency response meeting to prepare for record high temperatures.
- The alert will cover parts of England this week, when temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time.
- The UK’s record high temperature is 38.7C (101.7F) set in 2019.
LONDON, England: After weather authorities issued their first-ever red warning for extreme heat this week, the UK government has held an emergency response meeting to prepare for record high temperatures.
In a statement, the UK weather agency, the Met Office, said the alert will cover parts of England this week, when temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time.
The UK’s record high temperature is 38.7C (101.7F) set in 2019.
After chairing the meeting, Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse warned that transport services will be significantly affected.
“The heat will affect rails, for example, so the trains have to run slower. There may be fewer services. People need to be on their guard for disruption. If they don’t have to travel, this may be a moment to work from home,” he told the BBC.
Rail passengers and users of the London Underground subway system were also advised to avoid travel for the beginning of the week, unless absolutely necessary.
The UK is unaccustomed to high temperatures, with few homes, apartments, schools or small businesses having air conditioning.
Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan met with representatives of the National Health Service, police, fire and other emergency services to review plans to respond to the heat.
The upcoming heat wave and a surge in COVID-19 infections were causing a nightmare for health workers, said Dr. Claire Bronze, an emergency room consultant in London.
“A lot of hospital buildings are very old, particularly in London, and many do not have air conditioning and windows that do not open, so they are extremely hot,” she added, according to to the Associated Press.
