Britain braces for fourth heatwave of year as fire chiefs issue public appeal

Sun-scorched grass in Primrose Hill, central London, on Monday. Southern England has had just 1% of its average July rainfall. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Sun-scorched grass in Primrose Hill, central London, on Monday. Southern England has had just 1% of its average July rainfall. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images Britain braces for fourth heatwave of year as fire chiefs issue public appeal Temperatures up to 35C forecast, triggering heat health alerts and pleas to take care in parched parks and rural areas Paramedics and firefighters are braced for emergencies across the country this week after UK forecasters predicted a fourth heatwave of the year. Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 35C by Wednesday, triggering heat health alerts and an appeal from fire chiefs to take care in parched parks and rural areas. July has been 3C above average across the UK, according to provisional Met Office data, and with more than a month of summer left, the UK has already faced more days above 30C than ever before. Southern England has had just 1% of its average July rainfall, while England as a whole has had 5% and the UK 20%, according to the Met Office. Forecasters predict this latest heatwave will at least be shortlived. Temperatures are expected to rise from Tuesday, reaching 30C as a high pressure system sits across the east and south-east of the country, before the peak of the heat comes on Wednesday. View image in fullscreen Scorched woodland in the Cairngorms in Scotland after a wildfire at the weekend. Photograph: Robyn Vinter/The Guardian Temperatures would begin to gradually cool from Thursday, the Met Office said, except in the south-east where another hot day could keep the region in official heatwave conditions. The heat was likely to have a significant impact on the health of vulnerable people and increase demand on health services, the UK Health Security Agency said on Monday, as it issued amber heat health alerts for the east and south-east of England. They begin on Wednesday at 9am and end on Thursday. Yellow heat health alerts will remain in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands and south-west regions for the same time period. Ambulance and emergency medical teams anticipate a surge in patients suffering dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke , as well as from patients with heart and respiratory illnesses that can be badly exacerbated by high temperatures. White paint, trees or air con? What parents and teachers can do to cool UK’s overheating schools Read more “Recent episodes of extreme heat have shown how quickly patients can become seriously unwell,” said Helen Vine, the assistant director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE). “With amber heat health alerts in place, we would urge people to take the risks seriously by staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day, limiting alcohol consumption and seeking adv