Met office RED WARNING for extreme heat.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

General discussion is www.mumsnet.com/talk/weather/4583720-we-need-to-talk-about-the-weather-and-the-potential-for-extreme-heat but I wanted this to be seen by as many people as possible.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2022-07-18

Perhaps you should read the thread? Just a suggestion

The panic is because UK infrastructure and housing is not designed for very hot or very cold weather. Train speeds were slower at the beginning of this week because of the weather.

Sleep in the coolest room in your home? Hopefully they aren't your bathroom, kitchen or utility room.

@Namechangenoidea the humidity in this country means this is very different ball game.

You always hear people say ‘it’s a different kind of heat to abroad’ and it has some truth to it.

Thanks so much @OhYouBadBadKitten

This is a huge service. I was on your Storn Eunice thread (I think) and learned so so much.

This has been issued by the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency because it is likely that hundreds or thousands of people will die. That's a fact.

That makes this one of the biggest severe weather events that we have ever faced - the only other similar severe weather events that have caused deaths to such an extent have been other, less extreme in heat intensity heatwaves.

Bit different lounging by the pool or on the beach on holiday rather than having to work in it, carry on normal life.

I grew up in the ME and summer temps were over 40 but everywhere was air conditioned. We don't have the infrastructure for any extreme temps - hot or cold.

@Sorrento2014 we've just been emailed to say our school trip on Tue has been cancelled so yours might cancel too, ours was going to the coast where the forecast is cooler, but they can't risk it.

My ds's and I going to stay with my parents tomorrow as they have air con throughout their house. We are coming home Thursday.

You are welcome SummerLobelia

I can recommend this neck fan - www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B091DH2PR3?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details.

My husband bought me one a few weeks ago and I am so glad I have it now! I bought my mum one four days ago and I believe the price has gone up a little since then. Definitely worth the price.

I’ve got to take Dd for a brace on Tuesday😏

What do people think about commuting to an air conditioned office or staying put?

I'm going to be in my house (fan). MIL thinks SIL shouldn't go to work (commute by bus/tube) on Monday/Tuesday as it's too hot.

I've seen a weather forecast saying it could be 37&38c here.

Our local school is staying open, unless they hear anything otherwise from LA. Children can wear own clothes, a couple of terripin classes will be moved inside where cooler, children kept inside with regularly breaks to get water.

Where's the leadership to deal with this? We actually need our government to stop fannying about with their popularity contest and actually direct. We can't just leave it down to individual employers to make decisions, when we know lots can't be trusted to make sensible decisions, when their employees could die. Where's the national response to ensure we don't descend into chaos? For example, if my kids school close last minute, I can't go to work. So then I can't look after the students in the school I work in should that be open. So then what, my school closes too even more last minute? With the possibility of trains being cancelled etc, the whole thing is just going to be a shit show because there's zero evidence of any coordinated planning going on. Our government have stopped governing.

I've got my last bridge/implant appointment on Tuesday afternoon but no way that's getting cancelled.

I keep thinking about the poor people like my dh and 16 ds who work outside with no shade. Ds has only just finished school, he’s not been used to working outside during any summer let alone this hell.
I really worry about those who have to work with no facilities to keep cool. There will be so many heatstroke cases next week.
Such a worry that this is our future.

Open up everything at dawn, get a good breeze going through the house and baton down the hatches, close all windows blinds and curtains when the sun comes out. And then reverse in the evening- the last window and blind to open is on the landing for us as it gets direct sun until sunset 🥵

Open the loft hatch. No cooking inside. We’ve been sleeping with windows and curtains open and eye masks.

I’ve been checking inside temperatures and we’ve not got over 20 degrees inside although it’s been 30 outside.

She shouldn't use the bus or tube if she can avoid it.

Did you see many frail 80yo care home patients on your holiday to Cyprus? People that cope less well with heat generally choose not to go to hot destinations. But when the heat comes to them, it's very different.

Cypriot infrastructure probably works very well between 0C and 40C. The UK infrastructure works pretty well between -10C and 30C. In terms of designing infrastructure the actual numbers are less important than the difference between them. The UK is facing much greater extremes as a result of climate change, and it's happening more quickly than predicted.

Helpful hints on keeping cool from Melbourne friend 🙂

My dd (20) works in a theme park (that mostly employees teens/young adults) and she is working in the kitchen on Monday, which is hot at the best of times. They work 9hr shifts with half an hour break and the outdoor staff have to bring their own drinks or pay for bottled water, which is outragous.
We are away on holiday so she is going to have to walk there and back too and I am actually a bit worried now!

Agreed. Clearly wheels have been set in motion. That is the point of issuing a Level 4 emergency. But it needs to be communicated clearly, not left for people to find out about by chance on the internet.

Oh no please talk her out of it. I've done theme parks with kids in 25 degree heat and really did struggle. Even going on water rides to cool off we were dry again in no time.

@OhYouBadBadKitten hundreds of thousands of people in the uk are going to die on Mon/Tues because of the heat? Are you sure you've got that right?