Amber weather warning for extreme heat extended into East Lothian

The ‘be prepared’ warning – the second highest available from the Met Office – now covers the majority of southern Scotland and Fife, as well as all parts of England and Wales not covered by the maximum red warning in place for large swathes of England, where the temperature is expected to be as high as 40C, which would set an all-time record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK.

The amber warning is in place for the entirety of Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures in East Lothian set to potentially rise to as high as 30C on both days.

Temperatures are set to peak on Tuesday, with the forecast for the rest of the week in East Lothian much cooler, with temperatures in the county expected to be in the high teens from Wednesday onwards.

Met Office warnings in place for the UK on Monday and Tuesday. Red warnings are the most serious available, with amber warnings the second most serious

The Met Office warns East Lothian residents that adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat. Government advice is that 999 services should be used in emergencies only; seek advice from 111 if you need non-emergency health advice.

The wider population are likely to experience some adverse health effects, including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat-related illnesses, it adds.

The Met Office says that some changes in working practices and daily routines are likely to be required, while there is an increased chance that some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail, potentially leading to localised power cuts and the loss of other services to some homes and businesses.

More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents, the Met Office says, adding that some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays.

Look out for vulnerable people

Justice Secretary Keith Brown MSP, the Scottish Government’s lead minister for resilience, attended a Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) meeting on the extreme heat warning on Saturday.

He said: “We are aware of the extension to the weather warnings currently in place and are receiving regular updates from partners including the Met Office and emergency services.

“Our resilience arrangements have been activated and stand ready at all times to co-ordinate a response to severe weather issues where required. We will continue to closely monitor developments. “When temperatures increase, it’s important to monitor forecasts and follow public health advice, including staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding excess alcohol.

“I would also urge people to look out for vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, as older people, those with underlying conditions and those living alone may struggle to keep cool and hydrated.

“Water safety incidents and drownings increase in hot weather and people should be aware of the dangers and use supervised beaches and pools when possible – follow the Water Safety Code and in an emergency call 999.

“If you are planning on travelling to the areas covered by the red warning, you should be prepared for significant disruption and may want to consider delaying your travel. If you decide to travel, you should prepare appropriately, and keep-up to date with travel alerts.”