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How is Suffolk coping with the heatwave?

Rachael McMenemy
Weather Watchers/Brambles Rambles A row of colourful beach huts at the top of a grassy hill overlooking the sea. Weather Watchers/Brambles Rambles

The extreme heat is likely to continue throughout Thursday and Friday with temperatures set to peak at 37C in the UK, the Met Office has warned.

In Suffolk, temperatures are due to drop slightly on Thursday to 30C before ramping up again the next day.

An amber warning for extreme heat is in place across the county until Friday 21:00BST. By Saturday, temperatures could drop slightly to between 32-34C with night temperatures remaining in the low 20Cs.

Significant impacts on people's health and infrastructure are anticipated.

So, what do you need to know?

Are schools open?

PA Media Young children in a classroom wearing red and white tops. Some have their hands up while a teacher is at the front of the room in front of a white board.PA Media

The Department for Education says there is no maximum temperature limit for schools, although proposals are being considered.

Pupils are being advised to:

  • Bring extra water bottles
  • Wear hats and suncream
  • Attend in PE kits if more comfortable

Cedarwood Primary School in Kesgrave was shut on Wednesday and will remain closed on Thursday and Friday due to the extreme weather.

Great Barton Church of England Primary Academy is also closed on Thursday.

Travel disruption expected

A white and red Greater Anglia train parked on the platform.

Rail operators have warned of potential disruption due to the extreme heat, including overhead cables sagging towards the track, and have advised passengers to travel only if necessary.

Greater Anglia warned that delays should be expected.

Network Rail has said trains will be operating at reduced speeds, and amended timetables are likely.

No rail replacement buses will be offered if there are cancellations, it added.

Elsewhere, there have been reports that the surface of the A12 at Wickham Market had started to melt.

Suffolk Highways said no treatment had been required on the road yet, but it was "actively" monitoring the situation.

Health advice

PA Media West Suffolk Hospital entrance signPA Media
Hospitals are urging vulnerable people to be extra vigilant and stay out of the sun as much as possible

West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds warned the extreme heat was expected to "cause serious impacts across health and social care".

It urged more vulnerable people, including babies, young children, older people and those with long-term health conditions, to stay out of the heat as much as possible.

More advice can be found on the NHS website.

Some businesses and community centres with air conditioning have opened as cold spaces for anyone struggling with the sweltering temperatures.

They include Thurston Butchers, Bury Bowl in Bury St Edmunds, New Bury Community Centre and Woodbridge Riverside Trust.

Outdoor and water safety

Getty Images A round, black charcoal kettle barbecue grill with a lit, glowing fire inside sits in the foreground of a grassy field. The grill is mounted on a metal tripod stand with a small tray underneath, and its lid rests on the grass nearby. In the soft, blurred background, several people stand near a tent under a dramatic, cloudy twilight sky, with a car parked on the far left.Getty Images

Suffolk Fire and Rescue urged people to enjoy the water safely.

People are advised not to drink alcohol and swim, and to be aware of any warning signs.

The service said if you find yourself in trouble, remember to float and:

  • Stay calm
  • Lean back and spread your arms and legs
  • Control your breathing
  • Once calm, call for help or swim to safety if you can.

If you see someone in distress, do not enter the water; instead, call for help and dial 999

  • Ask for the fire service or the coastguard, depending on where you are
  • Tell them to float on their back and calm their breathing
  • Look for a throwline, buoy or other flat object like a football or empty plastic container to throw to them

Felixstowe Lifeboat station said more visitors had been heading to "our beautiful coastline" but urged people to be extra vigilant.

The fire service has also urged people to be wary of the dangers of starting fires in these conditions.

It advises:

  • Do not smoke in dry, grassy areas
  • Only use Barbecues in designated areas
  • Never leave Barbecues unattended and fully extinguish them
  • Take barbecues home to dispose of
  • Do not light campfires outside designated sites

Ickworth Estate, run by the National Trust, announced it would be closed on Thursday and Friday due to the soaring temperatures.

What about the animals?

Lowestoft is not usually comparable to an African Savannah, but for the residents of Africa Alive, the heatwave is giving them an experience of home.

Zookeeper Emily Payne said that although the majority of the animals at the zoo are used to more moderate climates, having only lived in Europe, they are designed for the heat and love it.

"Lions are big cats; cats sleep a lot of the day, so lions just tend to be a bit sleepier when it's warmer weather. A bit like we wish we could be as well."

She said the "giraffes thrive when it's warmer" and have been basking in the heat.

However, keepers are "going the extra mile" to keep the animals cool and comfortable with ice blocks, water enrichment and access to shadier areas, she said.

Other things to consider

Suffolk Recycling Centres has warned that sites may be closed and urged people to check before they travel to its sites.

West Suffolk Council said bin collections will begin at 05:30 BST on Thursday and Friday.

East Anglia Children's Hospitals (EACH) charity shops will not be taking donations for the rest of the week to protect staff from the sweltering job of trying to sort through bags.

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