Brighton and Hove health chiefs have issued a warning about the hot weather that has been forecast for the bank holiday weekend.
They are urging people to stay cool and covered up – or to wear sunscreen – and to drink enough water to stay hydrated.
The warning comes after the official weather forecaster – the Met Office – issued its own heatwave alert for eastern parts of England including the south east.
Temperatures are expected to reach 26C or almost 79F tomorrow (Saturday 24 August), the Met Office said, with barely any breeze.
The overnight temperature tomorrow night is not expected to drop below 18C or 64F to 65F and by Sunday afternoon there will be no cloud cover until Tuesday (27 August).
Other forecasters have predicted record-breaking temperatures for an August bank holiday, with thermometers locally expected to settle at between 31C (88F) and 33C (91F).
For some, it will mean spending hours stuck in traffic on a hot day as cars queue to reach Brighton – and to leave again at the end of the weekend.
Longer than usual queues seem likely, given the results of a survey by tourism chiefs at Visit England.
Their domestic trip tracker suggests that many more people than last year are planning a break elsewhere in Britain over the bank holiday weekend.
There have also been warnings to drivers not to leave children or animals in locked cars as temperatures soar.
The Met Office said: “There is a 90 per cent probability of heat health criteria being met between 9am on Saturday and 9am on Monday in parts of England.
“High pressure will build across England, bringing very warm or hot conditions to many parts of the country during Saturday and Sunday. Highest temperatures look to be across the eastern England.
“Into Monday, fresher air is now expected to gradually move eastwards across the country, although it will remain very warm for some eastern parts.”
The Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “Local health experts are urging people to protect themselves against the adverse effects of the predicted hot weather in coming days, after the Met Office’s ‘Heatwave alert’ was raised to ‘level 2’ for the city, with temperatures to gradually rise into the weekend.
“The heat health alert system acts as an early warning system, forewarning of periods of high temperatures which may affect the health of local residents.
“With a very warm week forecast for much of the country, including humid days and warm nights, the heatwave alert level has been raised.”
The CCG urged people to
- Stay out of the sun
- Cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
- Take extra care with children
- Keep homes as cool as possible – shading windows and shutting them during the day may help
- Open windows at night when it is cooler
- Keep drinking fluids
- Check on anyone who might be at special risk such as older people living alone
David Supple, the clinical chair of the CCG, said: “We’re urging residents and visitors to our city to be aware of the dangers of the heat.
“Most of us welcome hot weather but when it’s too hot for too long, there are health risks.”
Dr Supple said: “Make sure the hot weather does not harm you or anyone you know.
“Going into shade, wearing clothing and sunglasses and using sunscreen which is at least factor 15 with good UV-A protection on all exposed skin will all help reduce the risks we all face from the heat.”
The CCG added: “Anyone who feels unwell because of the heat should call NHS 111, visit their GP or go to the NHS walk-in centre at Brighton Station.”
For more NHS advice on how to beat the heat, visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather.
