"Cold does kill": plunging UK temperatures prompt health warning

Low temperatures heralding the arrival of winter have prompted health officials to stress that cold weather can be fatal.

A widespread frost is expected and a new survey of highways bosses shows that councils have stockpiled 1.2m tonnes of salt to prepare for the months ahead.

Public Health England is advising people to prepare for the chilly snap, warning that “cold does kill”.

On Monday night most of England will see temperatures fall to -4C (24.8F), with London experiencing a potential low of -3C (26.6F).

A low of -5C (23F) is forecast for Scotland – but rural areas are likely to be even colder – while Northern Ireland will face temperatures of 0C (32F), with rural areas similarly expected to plummet lower.

Dr Angie Bone, from the extreme events team at PHE, said: “Cold does kill, even in places where the temperatures aren’t at their lowest. Now is the time to prepare for the cold weather forecast by the Met Office, and to think of those you know who are older, very young, or have pre-existing health conditions who are particularly vulnerable.”

Andy Page, the chief operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “High pressure will bring generally dry and settled conditions this week, with clear skies and light winds allowing a widespread frost to occur on Monday and Tuesday night.

“From Wednesday onwards, cloudier and slightly less cold conditions will arrive across northern England, therefore overnight frosts will become fewer and less severe in the north but cold weather may persist across the south where skies remain clearer.

“Looking ahead into December and beyond, there are indications that a cold start to winter is more likely than normal, but this doesn’t guarantee snow nor does it mean we won’t see spells of mild and wet weather at times.”

Meanwhile, the Local Government Association (LGA) annual winter readiness survey shows councils are well prepared for plummeting temperatures with a substantial stock of grit.

About half are at the limit of storage capacity, and the LGA said gritters will be out treating thousands of miles of roads whenever overnight temperatures drop below zero in the coming days.

Councillor Martin Tett, the LGA’s transport spokesman, said: “Councils are fully prepared to protect residents and minimise disruption … caused by the drop in temperatures. They are constantly monitoring up-to-the-minute weather reports to make sure they can stay one step ahead of the weather.

“We are well prepared for the cold, with 1.2m tonnes of salt stockpiled and a fleet of state-of-the-art gritters ready to be deployed.”

1 December marks the beginning of meteorological winter, which lasts until 1 February.

"Cold does kill": plunging UK temperatures prompt health warning

United kingdom heatwave alert: how do you maintain awesome when temperatures soar?

South-east England could reach temperatures in the reduced 30s Celsius (mid-80s Farenheit) by Friday, whilst other parts of the country and Wales are probably to see temperatures in the mid to higher 20s. Met Workplace forecasters have issued a heatwave alert for this weekend, as temperatures soar to their highest of the year.

What tips do you have for coping with these climate situations?

In the course of the summertime heatwave in northern France in August 2003, 3 weeks of unprecedented higher temperatures brought on 15,000 deaths, specifically between older men and women.

In England that yr, in excess of 2,000 much more individuals died in the course of the 10-day August heatwave than in the course of the exact same time period of any of the prior five many years.

This yr the world seasoned the hottest Might globally given that information started in 1880. The heat, combined with more and more specific predictions of an El Niño weather occasion, means that specialists are now speculating whether or not 2014 could turn out to be the hottest 12 months on record.

Some ideas for maintaining cool:

• Remain out of the sun between 11-3pm, when temperatures are at their hottest.


• Drink cold drinks regularly and steer clear of tea, coffee and alcohol.
  
  


• Pull down the shades on your windows when it really is quite hot.


• If you have a fan place it nearer the window so it can pull colder air into the area.


• If you need to have to amazing down swiftly, put on damp outfits. The heat from your entire body will result in the water in your clothing to evaporate, cooling you down. This might be frowned upon on your morning commute.
  
  


• Counter to well-liked belief, the colour of your clothes proves of minor advantage when keeping you amazing. Loose-fitting garments, even so, are essential.


• Fan your face.
  
  

Do you live in a nation that routinely experiences heatwaves? What tips do you have for retaining amazing? Share your tips in the thread beneath and we’ll make a listing of the very best suggestions on the web site

When temperatures hit the low 30s in 2009, Guardian readers gave this advice:

Some tips from Portugal:

United kingdom heatwave alert: how do you maintain awesome when temperatures soar?

Heatwave alert as temperatures soar to high of the year in England and Wales

Forecasters issue heatwave alert as temperatures are set to hit high of the 12 months but thunderstorms are on the way. Photograph: Velar Grant/Demotix/Corbis

The Met Workplace has issued a heatwave alert as temperatures soar to their highest of the 12 months this weekend.

The south-east could attain the minimal 30s Celsius (mid-80s Farenheit) by Friday, whilst other elements of England and Wales are likely to see temperatures in the mid to large 20s.

The yellow degree 2 alert – triggered when there is a is 60% or over threat of threshold temperatures currently being reached in one particular or much more areas on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night – has been issued for Friday to Sunday. The East Midlands, West Midlands, east England, the south-east and London are the areas most most likely to experience heatwave conditions.

“There is a 60% probability of heatwave situations among 8am on Friday and 8am on Sunday in parts of England,” stated the Met Office. “The highest temperatures are very likely on Friday (great confidence) then a very humid night to comply with. Heavy thunderstorms in eastern places on Saturday will lead to somewhat decrease greatest temperatures, but it will still be quite humid.”

The likelihood of thunderstorms comes from very warm and humid air moving up from the Spanish plains to the Uk. If this meets cooler air from the Atlantic, the warm air can be forced swiftly upwards to generate thunderstorms. The Met Office describes the circumstances as Spanish plume.

Forecaster Helen Roberts stated most locations in England and Wales would truly feel sizzling and humid, with temperatures generally all around or increased than 25C (77F). She mentioned there was the possible for thundery downpours alongside the sizzling, sticky climate on Friday and Saturday.

“Most men and women won’t appreciate these situations,” Roberts explained. “It can be tough sleeping during the sizzling, humid nights. Though it most likely is shorts and T-shirt weather, you will want a brolly at the exact same time.”

Excessive exposure to high temperatures can be unsafe. During the summertime heatwave in northern France in August 2003, three weeks of unprecedented high temperatures triggered 15,000 deaths, particularly amongst older men and women.

In England that year, more than 2,000 more people died throughout the 10-day August heatwave than during the same time period of any of the earlier five many years.

The very first heatwave program for England was published in 2004 in response to the deaths of 2003. A heat wellness watch system now operates in England and Wales from 1 June to 15 September each and every 12 months. The technique has 4 ranges primarily based on threshold greatest daytime and minimal nighttime temperatures. These thresholds vary by area, but an regular temperature is 30C (86F) by day and 15C (59F) overnight.

Because 2003, the Uk has observed a significant heatwave in 2006, when there were an estimated 680 much more deaths in contrast with comparable intervals in prior years, and in 2009, when there were around 300 excess summer deaths.

This 12 months the world experienced the hottest May globally given that records began in 1880. The record heat, mixed with increasingly specified predictions of an El Niño, implies authorities are now speculating whether or not 2014 could turn into the hottest yr on record.

Data published by the US Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last month showed the common land and ocean surface temperature for May was .74C over the 20th-century common of 14.8C (58.6F), producing it the highest on record.

Heatwave alert as temperatures soar to high of the year in England and Wales