Ministers are reportedly planning for the unusual heat emergency as temperatures set new records this weekend. On Monday, the Met Office issued an Amber weather warning for extreme heat expected on July 17.
The weather warning is in effect all day with fears that heat will seep in next week, leading to an extension of the orange alert.
The Met Office warned that “some exceptionally high temperatures are possible on Sunday and could lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.”
Most of England and Wales have received the weather warning from Yorkshire and the Humber to South East and South West England.
According to the Met Office, adverse health effects are expected in the affected area, especially in those who are vulnerable, which could lead to a life-threatening situation.
It is also expected that there will be more water safety incidents due to more people trying to cool down, and there will be travel disruptions, including delays and road closures due to the risk of the roads melting.
The heat wave plan states that a Level 4 warning scenario means “road surfaces are prone to melting”, which could cause serious traffic disruptions and “potentially have serious consequences for those stranded in vehicles”.
Network Rail has already warned of speed limits in areas that will become hot spots during the week and weekend after the rails of a track in England caught fire on Monday due to the heat.
It’s also a concern that overhead power lines could hang due to the extreme heat, therefore blocking entire lines with “extreme weather action teams” tasked with measuring track temperatures.
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With a lack of rainfall, it is thought that multiple areas, including London, will face water restrictions and the water supply will also affect food production.
The National Farmers’ Union has stated that there will be lower yields on arable farms and grass growth this year and therefore livestock feed will be impacted, as well as higher food costs.
In preparation for the extreme heat, the public has been warned against walking their dogs on hot sidewalks, putting out cigarettes on the dry ground and campfires and barbecues in the countryside or in the woods.
The vulnerable, the elderly and children have been warned against being outside in the heat, a high factor sunscreen is also advised along with staying out of the sun and wearing light clothing and taking in more water than usual.