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The Met Office issued the alert on Tuesday with temperatures building throughout the week.
While this heatwave isn’t quite as extreme as the one last month, when new national records were set, temperatures could still hit 35C in some parts of the country.
Do what you can to stay cool. Not everyone enjoys the heat and high temperatures can be difficult for some, including older people, babies, young children, and those living with health conditions, so please look out for others and follow the advice:
- stay well hydrated, drink plenty of cold drinks and take water with you on journeys. If you’re out and about, the handy Refill app shows you venues where you can refill a water bottle for free. Avoid excess alcohol as it’ll dehydrate you
- stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when UV rays are strongest
- if you need to go out, wear sunscreen with a high SPF, a hat, shades and walk in the shade. Regularly reapply your sunscreen
- check to see if your sunscreen is still effective. The longer a bottle is open, the less effective it is at protecting you
- avoid exercising during the hottest part of the day
- stay cool indoors and keep your home cool. Follow the Beat the Heat checklist
- never leave anyone in a closed parked vehicle, especially babies, children and animals
- stay connected and pay attention to weather forecasts – knowing the forecast can help you plan ahead
- look out for signs of heatstroke, in yourself and others, and what to do if you think someone has it. Find out more on the NHS website.
Drought declared in large areas of England
Drought has been declared in large parts of England today (Friday) because of the prolonged dry weather.
While this doesn’t include North Somerset, it’s still worth following advice about how to save water.
Wessex Water has some tips on its website.
Reduce the risk of grass fires
Fire can spread easily in such dry conditions so Avon Fire and Rescue is reminding people to be on their guard and help prevent them in the first place.
Heat sources like barbecues and cigarettes can easily ignite dry grass.
Top fire safety tips include:
- if you're going to have a BBQ, they are best used in your own garden, away from your home and a safe distance from anything that could catch fire, such as hedges, sheds or garden furniture
- if you are using a disposable BBQ place it on a flat, non-flammable surface and only dispose of it once it's cold
- dispose of smoking materials responsibly - make sure cigarettes are fully out and cold before being put in a bin. Do not drop them on the ground
- pick up your litter - don't leave bottles or glass in dry areas as sunlight shining through the glass can start a fire. Instead, dispose of them in waste or recycling bins
- if you see a grass fire, move to a safe place and call 999 immediately - don't try and tackle it yourself.
Help recycling crews in hot weather
Recycling crews have adjusted their hours for the summer to avoid working in the hottest part of the day.
For the remainder of August, please make sure all that recycling boxes and bins are out by 6am.
Thank you to everyone who did this during the heatwave last month, as well as correctly sorting your recycling.
It really helps speed up collections when the materials are correctly separated.
It can take as little as 20 seconds to empty a sorted box rather than two minutes for one that’s all mixed together.
This means crews save time standing on the hot pavement and it helps them complete their rounds before it gets too hot.
Find the latest updates about the recycling and waste service on our website or follow the team on Facebook or Twitter.
The road to net zero
It’s now been a year since the UN published its ‘code red’ report on climate change, a landmark scientific report which was a stark warning for humanity.
It highlighted the damage that humans have already done to the planet and how this will very likely worsen.
We’re continuing to work to help support residents to lead greener lives and help North Somerset become carbon neutral by 2030.
Stay up-to-date with climate news and events in North Somerset by following the dedicated nature and climate Facebook page.