A new amber heat-health alert has been issued for Kent as the county braces itself for another burst of intense summer heat.
The warning, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), will be in place from midday today (July 11) until 9am on Monday (July 14).
It covers much of southern England, including London, the East of England, East Midlands and South West.
The UKHSA says “significant impacts are likely” in the affected areas, including a “rise in deaths”, particularly the elderly and those with existing health conditions.
Kent and the south east are marked as “medium risk” with impacts across health and social care services, with people urged to stay cool, hydrated and vigilant.
Temperatures expected to climb up to 33C in parts of the county.
Northern parts of Kent, including Dartford, are expected to experience the highest temperatures, peaking at 33C on Monday, while areas such as Canterbury and the east coast are not far behind, forecast to reach 32C.
Alongside health concerns, there are warnings of increased pressure on power supplies, travel delays, and difficulties in managing some medications in overheated conditions.
The alert also notes that workforce delivery may be disrupted, particularly in sectors reliant on transport or outdoor labour.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has urged patients to store medicines in a cool place, warning that some drugs can lose effectiveness or cause harmful side effects if exposed to high temperatures.
This is the second amber alert this summer, a similar warning was issued on June 19, marking the first alert of its kind since September 2023.
That period saw packed and littered beaches, reports of anti-social behaviour in coastal towns, and spikes in emergency service demand.
There have also been several wildfire reports in the last few days and a huge fire on the Medway City Estate today.
Meanwhile, a water company has imposed a temporary hosepipe ban after “record-breaking” demand for drinking water.
Officials are reminding people to:
– Check on elderly relatives or neighbours
– Drink plenty of fluids
– Avoid direct sun exposure between 11am and 3pm
– Never leave children or pets in parked cars
More information and advice on staying safe during the heat is available on the UKHSA website.
The warning comes as scientists continue to link more frequent extreme heat episodes to climate change, with long-term data showing rising average summer temperatures across the UK.
