Yellow heat alert as new heatwave hits school holidays: forecast for West Midlands and Shropshire

A new Yellow Heat Health Alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as another spell of hot weather is set to affect much of England.

The alert is in force from 9am Tuesday until 9am Friday, covering the West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East of England, the South East and the South West.

Health officials have warned that the hot weather could have significant impacts on health and social care services.

Older people, young children and those with existing health conditions are most at risk, with an increased chance of heat-related illness. The UKHSA has also warned of a higher risk of drowning as more people head to rivers, lakes and the coast to cool down.

The Met Office expects temperatures to climb above 30°C across parts of England during the middle of the week. While southern and central England enjoy hot sunshine, northern parts of the UK are expected to remain cooler with cloud and outbreaks of rain.

The prolonged dry weather has left much of England extremely dry. Southern England has received only a tiny fraction of its usual July rainfall, contributing to drought conditions in some areas and increasing the risk of severe wildfires. Fire danger is expected to remain exceptionally high across parts of eastern and southern England.

Weather during the school summer holidays – West Midlands and Shropshire

Families in the West Midlands and Shropshire can expect a warm and mostly dry start to the school summer holidays.

Early in the week, temperatures will rise into the high 20s, with many places reaching 29–31°C by Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There will be plenty of sunshine with only a small chance of isolated showers.

The hot weather is expected to ease towards the weekend, with temperatures falling back into the low to mid-20s. Conditions should become fresher with a mix of sunshine and cloud, although most places are expected to stay dry.

Looking further ahead into August, forecasters suggest there is a good chance of more settled weather returning. This means the West Midlands and Shropshire could continue to enjoy warm, dry spells during much of the school summer holidays, although occasional showers and cooler days are still possible.

People are being advised to:

• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
• Avoid the strongest sunshine between 11am and 3pm.
• Wear sunscreen, hats and light clothing.
• Check on elderly relatives, neighbours and vulnerable people.
• Never leave children or pets in parked cars.
• Take extra care if visiting rivers, lakes or open water, and avoid lighting barbecues or fires in the countryside due to the high wildfire risk.

The Met Office says this latest spell of hot weather could become the UK's fourth heatwave of the summer, with more warm and settled conditions possible during August.