09 Jun Heatwaves and Extreme Heat

As was evident from summer 2022, our weather is changing, and heatwaves are becoming both more frequent and with greater extremes in temperature. Some people are more susceptible to the effects of hot weather than others and tragically the Office of National Statistics estimate there were around 3,000 excess deaths because of high temperatures last year. For businesses, extreme heat can have serious impacts such as equipment failure, lost stock, safety issues for staff and overall lower productivity.

From a meteorological perspective, 1^st June marks the start of summer and beginning of the Met Office and UKHSA heat-health alert service. This service aims to reduce these harmful impacts by alerting people to the risk, enabling them to take appropriate precautionary action. For 2023 an updated system is being introduced which moves more to impact based alerting with the first alert of the season being issued on only the 7^th June 2023.

A full overview of the new Heat-Health Alert system is available from UKHSA, and you can register to receive the alerts by using the links below:

• User Guide – Impact-based Weather and Health Alerting System (publishing.service.gov.uk)
• Weather-Health Alerting system registration form (office.com)

Throughout the period from 1^st June to 30^th September, heat health will be covered by a corresponding alert level based on the forecast weather. Descriptions of the different alert levels are below:

• Green (preparedness): No alert will be issued as the conditions are likely to have minimal impact and health; business as usual and summer/winter planning and preparedness activities.

• Yellow (response): These alerts cover a range of situations. Yellow alerts may be issued during periods of heat/cold which would be unlikely to impact most people but could impact those who are particularly vulnerable.

• Amber (enhanced response): An amber alert indicates that weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, with potential for the entire population to be at risk. Non-health sectors may also start to observe impacts and amore significant coordinated response may be required.

• Red (emergency response): A red alert indicates significant risk to life for even the healthy population.

Each month the Met Office also issue a outlook for the next 3 months which gives an indication of more likely weather patterns for that period. The outlook for summer 2023 can be found at the link below, and you will see that the indications are we have a 2.3x higher than usual chance of a hot summer.

3_month_outlook_only_template (metoffice.gov.uk)

It is important that businesses think about the risks associated with extreme heat ahead of time and how these will impact on your customers, your staff and your business operations.

You may find that developing some local plans and protocols help you deal with the worst of the hot weather and lets you enjoy some sunshine while it lasts.

For more information on how to keep cool in hot weather please use the following links

• Beat the heat: hot weather advice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Staying safe in extreme heat – UK Health Security Agency (blog.gov.uk)
• Hot weather advice: planning events and mass gatherings – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

– North Northamptonshire Council, Emergency Planning Team