People are being warned to stay indoors in Essex as temperatures are continuing to soar this week after the hottest May day on record.
Parts of Essex reached highs of around 30C yesterday, as the UK recorded its highest-ever temperature for May with 34.8C recorded in parts of London.
Met Office forecasts indicate that temperatures in Essex will climb even higher today.
Chelmsford is expected to reach 34C, Basildon and Braintree 33C, Colchester 32C, and Southend 31C.
An amber heat-health alert is in place for Essex and the wider east of England until 5pm on Wednesday, May 27.
The UK Health Security Agency, which issued the heat-health alert, has warned people to stay indoors between 11am and 3pm, which is typically the hottest time of the day.
A spokesman for the Met Office told the Press Association: "We rarely see temperatures above 35C, even in the summer months, so to see temperatures getting close to 35 in May is, as I say, pretty historic."
Saturday was the first day this year that the UK recorded temperatures above 30C, and the last time this occurred in May was in 2012.
Heatwave conditions were officially recorded in Writtle on Sunday.
The Met Office defines a heatwave as three consecutive days meeting or exceeding a set temperature threshold.
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The alert warns of significant impacts on health and social care services, including increased risk of death, particularly among people aged 65 and over or those with existing health conditions.
Increased demand on healthcare services is expected, with a risk of indoor temperatures exceeding safe thresholds in hospitals and care homes.
Overheating in homes could pose dangers for vulnerable people living independently or in community settings.
The high temperatures may also cause travel disruptions, power demand issues, and challenges for service delivery due to workforce constraints.
Dr Anya Gopfert, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA, said: "We know that even moderate heat can lead to serious health problems, especially for older people and those with certain health conditions, so it’s important that everyone takes simple precautions while enjoying the warm weather over the coming days.
"If you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice."
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