Britain has been put under a four-day heat health alert from tomorrow as high temperatures raise fears of deaths.
A yellow alert is in place for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London between Sunday and Wednesday.
The alert warns significant impacts are possible across health and social care services.
It also warns of an increase in fatalities, especially in those over the age of 65 with health conditions.
The alert has been issued from 9am on August 2 to 9am on August 5.
The Met Office has warned: “There may also be impacts on younger age groups a likely increase in demand for health services.
“Internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment, and the heat may affect the ability of the workforce to deliver services.
It has also stated: “Indoor environments overheating may increase the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings.”
The highest areas of risk will be the South East and South West, with London and the East of England needing to take precautions.
It comes as much-needed rainfall to reverse Britain’s worst drought in decades is not set to arrive until the autumn.
Experts have warned prolonged heatwave conditions, low rainfall and shrinking water supplies are creating dangerous conditions, with the historic drought of 1976 now on the verge of being surpassed.
According to long-range forecasts, sufficient rainfall to bring an end to drought conditions is not expected until October, with around 23 million people subject to a hosepipe ban imposed by seven separate water companies across the country.
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Should today remain dry, it will equal the 45-day rainless period experienced during the severe drought of 1976, which caused widespread water shortages and significant agricultural losses.
Areas officially designated as being in drought include East Anglia, Hertfordshire and London, the Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex.
Experts are warning current forecasts “do not favour the widespread, sustained rainfall” needed to make up the shortfall caused by recent dry conditions.
Met Office chief meteorologist Will Lang said: “While there is always the potential for periods of rain during the remainder of the summer, current forecasts do not favour the widespread, sustained rainfall that would be needed to make a significant difference to rainfall deficits that have built up over recent months.
“As we move through August, there remains a tendency towards drier than average conditions, particularly in southern and eastern areas.
“Meaningful recovery from prolonged dry conditions often relies on more frequent and widespread rainfall during the autumn months, when weather patterns typically become more changeable.”
Although there is no single trigger for declaring a drought, the Environment Agency assesses rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels, reservoir storage and environmental impacts before making a declaration.
Officials say current conditions are placing increasing strain on communities, businesses, agriculture and ecosystems.
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