Met Office amber heat warning covers Deeside from Wednesday as temperatures forecast to near Welsh record
A Met Office amber extreme heat warning is in place for Deeside from Wednesday midnight through to Thursday night, only the second time North Wales has been placed under one.
Amber is the second-highest level on the Met Office’s three-tier warning scale, sitting above yellow and below red.
A red extreme heat warning has only ever been issued once in the United Kingdom, during the July 2022 heatwave.
The Met Office only introduced the extreme heat warning system in June 2021, and amber warnings covering North Wales have been rare, issued previously only during the July 2022 heatwave.
The June 2026 warning was initially issued for parts of England and Wales before being extended to include North Wales for the Wednesday and Thursday period.
So what does amber actually mean?
The Met Office says an amber warning signals that health impacts are expected across the general population, not only those who are usually most vulnerable to extreme heat.
Power, water and mobile phone services could be disrupted.
Road closures are possible, and delays and cancellations to rail and air travel should be expected.
The Met Office advises people to drink plenty of fluids, keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, close curtains in rooms that face the sun and check on vulnerable neighbours.
If you are travelling, carry water, wear light-coloured clothing and check road or rail conditions before setting off.
If you are worried about your health or that of someone you know, call NHS 111.
For Deeside, the warning carries a specific local dimension.
Wales’s all-time temperature record is 37.1°C, recorded at Hawarden Airport on 18 July 2022, according to the Met Office.
The Met Office forecast for Hawarden on Thursday stands at 36°C as of Sunday afternoon.
This week is also forecast to feel different from 2022, and not only because of the temperature.
The Met Office is forecasting dew points of around 22°C on Wednesday and Thursday, a measure of how much moisture is in the air.
During the July 2022 heatwave, dew points were in single figures.
A higher dew point makes the air feel more oppressive and makes it harder for the body to cool itself through sweating, raising the health risk even if the peak temperature falls short of the 2022 record.
Nights are also unlikely to bring much relief.
The Met Office is warning of tropical nights during the week, a term used when overnight temperatures do not fall below 20°C.
When temperatures stay high overnight, the body cannot recover from the heat of the day, which increases the risk for everyone, not only those who are already unwell.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said:
“The forecast heatwave is developing into an impactful severe weather event, with record breaking June temperatures and very high humidity.”
“The combination of heat and humidity will be oppressive and bring impacts across society from public health and infrastructure, to power and water supplies.”
“As well as very high daytime temperatures, there will be consecutive nights where temperatures do not drop below 20°C, which is called a Tropical Night. This will make it very hard for people to recover from the daytime heat, exacerbating the heat stress impacts.”
Readers in Wales should note that the UK Health Security Agency heat health alerts referenced in some national coverage do not apply here.
In Wales, heat health alerts are issued by Public Health Wales.
Check the latest advice at phw.nhs.wales before and during the warning period.
The hot weather is also likely to bring more people at areas of open water.
The RNLI has warned that water temperatures remain cold enough to cause cold water shock even when air temperatures are high.
Samantha Hughes, National Water Safety Partner at the RNLI, said:
“With warmer weather approaching, it’s important to remember that the water is still cold. Entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold water shock, causing a sudden increase in breathing and heart rate, which may trigger panic.”
“If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, relax and control your breathing.”
The Met Office forecast for Hawarden shows temperatures of 29°C on Monday, 29°C on Tuesday, 31°C on Wednesday and 36°C on Thursday before easing to 25°C on Friday.
The amber extreme heat warning for North Wales runs from Wednesday midnight to Thursday 11:59pm.
Check live fuel prices near you before you set off.
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