Met Office ups heatwave alert level

Jul 1 2009

Britain has basked in the sweltering sun after forecasters raised the heatwave warning alert level from two to three.

Temperatures had already reached 30C (86F) at Heathrow Airport in London by mid afternoon, with Wednesday set to be the hottest of the year so far.

The Met Office said the hot spell, which has now extended over nearly a week, was being experienced across the country.

Only extreme coastal areas, Northern Ireland and the west coast of Scotland, where temperatures were hitting a more moderate 20C (68F), have escaped the burning heat, said a Met Office spokeswoman.

She said average temperatures for the time of year, which normally hit about 20C, were being surpassed, with most places recording more than 25C (77F).

The Met Office said the warning level was raised to three, one below the highest level, because high temperatures had been reached and sustained in one or more regions, with two consecutive very warm nights and a hot intervening day.

Those English regions affected by the heatwave and at level three include London and the south east.

The spokeswoman said the current weather spell was the hottest since July 2006, with Tuesday the hottest of the year so far at 31.8C (89.2F).

The heatwave plan alert is in four stages, with green level one signalling "summer preparedness and long-term planning". Level two is amber and signals "alert and readiness", while three is red for "heatwave action".

Level four is classed as "red emergency".