The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has raised the heat health alerts to amber in significant areas of England in anticipation of a heatwave during the upcoming bank holiday weekend. The alert status has been upgraded from yellow to amber for the Midlands, eastern and south-east England, with yellow alerts issued for south-west England and northern England. These alerts took effect on Friday morning and will continue until 5 pm on Wednesday.

According to the Met Office, temperatures in south-east England could reach 33C on bank holiday Monday, surpassing the current May record of 32.8C. The national weather service has cautioned about an exceptional warmth spell for May, predicting a notable heatwave over the Bank Holiday weekend.

An amber alert signifies that conditions could impact the wider population or the NHS, with potential travel disruptions, while a yellow alert indicates that vulnerable groups may be affected by the hot weather. The UKHSA has cautioned about a potential rise in fatalities, especially among individuals aged 65 and above or with underlying health issues, leading to increased pressure on healthcare services.

With the prolonged high temperatures expected, the UKHSA advises the public to stay hydrated, check on vulnerable family members or neighbors, and take necessary precautions in the sun. Steve Kocher, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, mentioned that temperatures are expected to rise, particularly in the south, with temperatures likely to hit 30C on Saturday, 32C on Sunday, and peak at 33C on Monday in southern England and the Midlands.

The weekend is expected to be hot, dry, and sunny across most of the UK, although Northern Ireland and western Scotland may experience some clouds and showers. Lower sea surface temperatures may result in low cloud cover and sea fog along western coasts.