With temperatures in parts of the UK set to hit 100F (37C) this week, the heatwave is already causing chaos for many Britons.
The Met Office has extended its amber ‘extreme heat’ warning to include all of next Tuesday, having previously issued it for Sunday and Monday.
Forecasters said the ’emphasis on the peak of the hot spell’ had now shifted from Sunday to Monday and Tuesday – but that the risk of ‘widespread impacts on people and infrastructure’ remained.
Now, scientists have claimed that the UK should name heatwaves in the same way as storms, as part of an effective early warning system to protect the most vulnerable.
Professor Mike Tipton from The Physiological Society said: ‘As part of raising awareness of the threat from heatwaves in the UK, heatwaves should be named in the same was as we name storms.
‘It makes the risk to health clear and that people can’t expect to continue as normal during the heatwave.’
An ‘amber’ extreme heat Met Office warning covering much of England and Wales on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday says there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness, with adverse health effects not just limited to the most vulnerable
Forecasters said the ’emphasis on the peak of the hot spell’ had now shifted from Sunday to Monday and Tuesday – but that the risk of ‘widespread impacts on people and infrastructure’ remained
The Physiological Society – the largest group of physiologists in Europe – is calling for an improved early warning system for heatwaves in a new report set to be released today.
It claims that the UK Met Office should name heatwaves in the same way as storms.
On its website, the Met Office explains: ‘The naming of storms using a single authoritative system should aid the communication of approaching severe weather through media partners and other government agencies.
‘In this way the public will be better placed to keep themselves, their property and businesses safe.’
The report uses Seville as an example, which has recently started naming heatwaves as excessively hot weather becomes more frequent.
‘This week could potentially see record breaking temperatures here in the UK. Just like preparing for a storm in winter, people need to take action to keep themselves and their loved ones safe,’ Professor Tipton said.
‘Extreme heat isn’t just a problem on your summer holidays, due to climate change we are increasingly seeing very hot weather here in the UK.
The Met Office has extended its amber ‘extreme heat’ warning to include all of next Tuesday, having previously issued it for Sunday and Monday
‘Even one day of very hot weather can present a risk, but consecutive days of high temperatures triggers a heatwave that requires specific actions to keep people safe.’
The Physiological Society hopes that naming heatwaves will ‘aid communication’ about heatwaves.
‘This will aid the communication of approaching heatwaves through the media and government agencies,’ Professor Tipton explained.
‘This is especially helpful for those who don’t have as ready access to the internet or weather apps on smartphones.’
The Physiological Society is focused on understanding how the body works, including how the body copes in response to heat and extreme weather.
‘As the science of how the body works, physiology explains the impact of hot weather on our health,’ Professor Tipton added.
‘We can use this knowledge to advise on ways to keep the body cool and design early warning systems that provide tailored advice to the most vulnerable or those who have to work in the heat.
‘This will enable people to better plan ahead and take measures that could save lives.
‘Such knowledge can also assist in smart building design and urban development, both of which will amongst the developments needed going into a hotter future.’