The forecast of hot temperatures across the country this week has prompted the first Heat-Health Watch warning this summer.

Parts of England will see temperatures climb to highs of 30 °C by day, but a key factor will be the night-time temperatures. Lows in some areas may not fall below 18 °C.

Head of Health Forecasting at the Met Office, Wayne Elliott, said: “We have been working closely with the Department of Health to develop this service, which is aimed at those vulnerable to high temperatures, especially the elderly. The last time a heat-health warning was issued was in the hot summer of 2006.”

The Heat-Health Watch is currently at level two, with the probability of heatwave conditions at 70%. We expect this to increase to level three during the course of the week.

Heatwaves can be dangerous, especially for the elderly, those with chronic diseases and the very young. Advice on how to reduce the risk, either for yourself or somebody you know, can be obtained from NHS Direct or your local pharmacist.

It will be predominately dry and sunny this week, but the build up of heat and humidity will set off some thunderstorms in parts of the UK.

Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, Martin Young, added: “Temperatures are likely to build through the first part of this week, with a 60% chance of reaching 33 °C by midweek, before becoming less hot by the weekend”.

Even though England will see the highest temperatures, all of the UK will have some very warm weather, with the continuing chance of thunderstorms in a few places leading to high rainfall totals locally.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/pr20090629.html

Average temperature = 22.1°C
Average humidity = 75%
Average dewpoint = 17.2°C
Average barometer = 1015.9 mb
Average windspeed = 3.9 mph
Average gustspeed = 7.9 mph
Average direction = 165° (SSE)
Rainfall for month = 121.5 mm
Rainfall for year = 464.3 mm
Rainfall for day = 5.2 mm
Maximum rain per minute = 0.8 mm on day 29 at time 05:36
Maximum temperature = 29.5°C on day 29 at time 15:24
Minimum temperature = 15.9°C on day 29 at time 20:53
Maximum humidity = 93% on day 29 at time 08:05
Minimum humidity = 50% on day 29 at time 17:26
Maximum pressure = 1019.1 mb on day 29 at time 23:31
Minimum pressure = 1014.4 mb on day 29 at time 04:30
Maximum windspeed = 11.5 mph on day 29 at time 16:21
Maximum gust speed = 21 mph from 203 °(SSW) on day 29 at time 14:12
Maximum heat index = 32.1°C on day 29 at time 15:22

It saddens me immensely to read stories like this every time there is a bit of hot weather in the UK.

Rescuers searching for a 15-year-old boy who went missing after getting into trouble while swimming in the River Severn in Worcester have found a body.

An air ambulance, two rescue boats and several fire and police officers were sent to the Sabrina footbridge in the city, near the racecourse.

It is understood the teenager was swimming with three other boys at about 1530 BST when he got into difficulty.

The trio made it safely to the bank and called the emergency services.

Disappeared from view

It is thought the boys were sent home.

Resident Doug Westwood said a neighbour, who lives close to the river, saw the boys jump in the water.

“He said four lads, aged about 14 or 15 he thought, put their possessions down on the side of the bank, on the racecourse side, and swam to the other side,” he said.

“Then , apparently… they said – the lads – that they had not seen him for four or five minutes.”

The suspension bridge links the racecourse with Hylton Road, a main route in the city.

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GREAT Western Ambulance Service is urging people to take more care in the heat following a rise in call-outs.

The emergency service received 16.5 per cent more calls during weekend.

Paramedics have responded by providing advice to people on how to stay safe during the sunshine.

Clinical advisor Victoria O’Leary said: “One of the best ways to stay healthy during the hot weather is to make sure you keep your fluid levels up.

“People often spend a long time out of the house so remembering to eat regularly is really important.

“This is especially true if you are drinking alcohol as this can act as an appetite suppressant and without anything lining your stomach the alcohol can have very severe effects.”

Other tips include wearing a hat, using high factor sun cream and staying indoors or in the shade at the hottest time of the day.

http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmercury&category=news&tBrand=westonmercury&tCategory=znews&itemid=WeED29%20Jun%202009%2018%3A05%3A25%3A807

A damp start this morning (heavy rain!) gave way to a very humid / sticky day with a high of 29.5C at just before 2pm today.

The forecast is for continued hot weather this week, but with cloudy conditions and the risk of thunderstorms never far away it will feel rather unpleasant.

The question is – will the record fall again this week?

Fans leave a muddy Glastonbury following early morning downpours

Heavy showers of rain overnight and into the morning has caused headaches for drivers leaving the Glastonbury Festival site in Pilton.

Cars stuck in the mud are causing big delays, and one driver told the BBC it took four hours to leave the site.

Traffic is still building with major delays on the A37 southbound from Pylle and the A39 westbound to the M5.

BBC West weatherman Ian Fergusson advised motorists to carry water in their cars as temperatures will soar.

Despite the traffic problems at the start and close of the festival, organiser Michael Eavis said it was the “best festival ever”.

Anti-viral

Police say overall levels of crime were down, although there was a slight increase in arrests for drug offences.

In total, 445 crimes were recorded by police, compared to 483 at the same time the previous year.

The number of thefts from tents and of mobile phones fell sharply from previous years.

Police trialled new methods of patrolling the site in tandem with festival security staff, this year.

Ch Supt Kay Wozniak of Avon and Somerset Police said: “Managing 177,000 in one place is no mean feat, but working with Glastonbury Festival Ltd has gone very well and we’re very pleased with how things have turned out.”

A total of six people were identified by festival medical staff as having possible swine flu symptoms.

The people identified – and those in close contact with them – were given anti-viral drugs on site and all left the site on advice of doctors.

All six had mild flu symptoms.

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