Climate change concern: UK issues first 'red' warning for hot weather

A heat haze shimmers over Crosby Beach in Liverpool. Photo / Getty Images

British authorities issued their first ever "red" warning for extreme heat early next week, declaring a national emergency as forecasters predict record temperatures that will put even healthy people at risk of serious illness and death.

The warning covers Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures in England may reach 40C for the first time, the UK Met Office said. The British record is 38.7C, set in 2019.

The alert comes as scientists say climate change is increasing the likelihood of exceptional heat waves in Britain, a country better known for grey skies and rain. The chances of temperatures like those forecast for next week are already 10 times higher than they would be without the influence of human activity, said Nikos Christidis, a Met Office climate scientist.

"We hoped we wouldn't get to this situation, but for the first time ever we are forecasting greater than 40C in the UK," Christidis said in a prepared statement. "In a recent study, we found that the likelihood of extremely hot days in the UK has been increasing and will continue to do so during the course of the century."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) increased its own hot weather alert to the highest level, putting it to "national emergency". The warning system was created in 2004 when concerns about climate change spurred authorities to develop their first plan to protect the public from severe heat.

Sunbathers enjoy the heatwave on Brighton beach, East Sussex. Photo / Getty Images

"At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups," UKHSA said.

The weather alert, which covers a big chunk of England from London north to Manchester, also warns of potential disruption to air and rail travel and potential "localised loss of power and other essential services, such as water or mobile phone services".

The two agencies issued lower-level warnings earlier this week as large parts of the UK experienced higher than normal temperatures, although cooler weather prevailed on Thursday and Friday. Temperatures are expected to rise in the coming days as the system that brought record highs to parts of Europe this week moves north over Britain.

"Even as a climate scientist who studies this stuff, this is scary," said Professor Hannah Cloke, a natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading. "This feels real. At the start of the week, I was worried about my goldfish getting too hot. Now I'm worried about the survival of my family and my neighbours."

Nigel Arnell, a professor of climate system science at the University of Reading, said Britain needs to prepare for more hot weather in the future, retrofitting buildings to cope with extreme weather and planting more greenery in cities.

Adaptation and resilience need to become a political priority, he said.

"We can't keep on dealing with extremes in crisis mode," Arnell said.