Red weather warning London 2022: what does extreme heat alert mean - and Met Office weather forecast

London is set to bask in scorching temperatures in what could be one of the hottest recorded summers in British history.

In repsonse to the blistering weather, London has also declared a severe weather emergency response to deal with the upcoming heat.

London has also been issued a red weather warning for severe heat, the most extreme warning an area can receive.

Recently, the weather in the UK has eclipsed the weather seen in California, Ibiza and Santorini to name a few, with many people claiming it is just ‘too hot’.

It has been reported that there is a 30 percent chance that this upcoming Sunday (July 17) could be the hottest day ever recorded in Britain, with the UK potentially seeing its first ever national heatwave emergency.

The TUC has also called for employers to allow staff to work from home where possible and to also relax dress codes at work, to allow people to feel comfortable during the extreme heat.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, took to Twitter to say: ‘Heatwaves can be dangerous. Here’s a reminder of ways to stay - and keep others - safe: Refill your bottle from water fountains across the city Look out for older and more vulnerable people Keep children and pets out of the heat’.

When will the heatwave end?

Currently, the amber warning for extreme heat is active midnight on Sunday for a day.

From Monday, a red heat warning for weather has been issued, which will be active until Tuesday night at 11:59pm, meaning it will be in place for almost 48 hours.

What can we expect from a red warning for extreme heat?

A red weather warning, According to the Met Office means ‘An exceptional hot spell on Monday and Tuesday leading to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure. ‘

Here’s what we can expect too:

• Population-wide adverse health effects experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life. Government advice is that 999 services should be used in emergencies only; seek advice from 111 if you need non-emergency health advice.
• Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines will be required
• High risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, potentially leading to localised loss of power and other essential services, such as water or mobile phone services
• Significantly more people visiting coastal areas, lakes and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents
• Delays on roads and road closures, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, with significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays

What will the weather be like in London during the heatwave?

A heat wave of course brings extremely hot weather, and that will be the case in London.

Expect nothing but sunshine on the first day when the warning is in place, with no chance of anything but sun and blue skies.

On Sunday, July 17,  expect highs of 30C and lows of 20C, with the temperature expected to be 24C at 10pm.

However, on Monday, July 18 is when the heat literally gets turned up. Expect highs of 35C in London, but with the weather remaining flawless.

On Tuesday, July 19 is when the temperature peaks, with a high of 37C and perfect sunshine all day.

When the weather peaks in London with the high temperature, the humidity level will be moderately low meaning it may be a nice period of hot weather, unlike the usual ‘muggy’ feeling we’re all too accustomed to when it gets hot in the UK.