Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England

People flocking to their nearest coastlines to cool off are being reminded to use lifeguarded beaches for their safety.

Patrol times at lifeguarded beaches run from 10:00 to 18:00 BST.

"Remember, if there are no flags, there are no lifeguards," said regional water safety lead for the RNLI Steve Instance.

The RNLI is also appealing to people to share water safety advice with family and friends, particularly young people and teenagers, who accounted for the majority of drowning fatalities during the last heatwave.

"Cold water shock is a real danger, which we particularly want people to be aware of," Instance said.

"The sea or open water may look inviting during hot weather, but it remains cold enough year-round to trigger cold water shock, which can cause uncontrollable gasping, increased heart rate, and can lead to panic and drowning very quickly, it’s best to enter the water slowly to gradually acclimatise."

Drivers could see gritters out on some roads this week due to the potential for surfaces to soften or become sticky under the heat, with heavy traffic even causing them to rut in some places.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “If drivers come across a softened or damaged surface, they should slow down, avoid harsh braking or steering, and leave extra space from the vehicle in front.”

Avon and Somerset Police is asking people to look out for their vulnerable family, friends and neighbours who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated during the hot weather.

The force also advises anybody travelling to pack plenty of water, snacks and a phone charger and to plan their route.

Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England

Image source, PA

Are you able to opt for using public transport instead of your own vehicle this week?

Rod Dennis, road safety spokesperson at RAC, warns there could be a record number of breakdowns this week as the heat puts extra strain on vehicles.

He is urging drivers to avoid non-essential journeys if their vehicles do not have effective air-conditioning.

“The heatwave will affect services right across the UK and while all patrols will be working incredibly hard to assist drivers, longer waits are more likely,” he said, adding that some simple basic checks under the bonnet could reduce the risk of breakdowns," he says.

Ruth Bradley
Politics reporter, BBC Somerset

At a hairdressers in Bridgwater, owner Jo Bryant says she's been changing her appointments around to take place during the cooler mornings.

She's also been using tepid and cool water on her clients and giving them a choice if they want a blow dry or not to make their visits more comfortable.

"I don't put the lights on to reduce the heat, I've got a fan on. It's so hot, it's not worth it," Bryant says.

"It's the afternoon that's worse in here because the sun comes down to the windows and through the glass roof.

"There's 90-year-old on Thursday that my husband's got and I said I think we should ring them and advise to reschedule."

Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England

Health and social care services across the country are being told to ensure they are prepared for the extreme heat this week.

Sarah Bird, lead consultant in health protection at the UK Health Security Agency South West, says it is "vitally important" everyone understands the risk post by high temperatures.

“Simple actions like staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool can make a big difference.

"It’s also important to look out for others, especially elderly relatives, neighbours, and those with underlying health conditions, to make sure they are aware of the forecast and following the necessary advice.”

Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red heat health alert across the West which will run from 01:00 BST on Wednesday until 23:00 BST on Thursday.

It is only the second time a red alert has ever been issued - the first one was issued in July 2022, although the warning system was only introduced in 2021.

The alert indicates a risk to life for even the healthy population, as well as the vulnerable. It also signifies there could be an impact beyond health and social care, with potential effects on transport, food, water, energy supplies, and businesses.

Image source, Getty Images

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has cancelled events due to take place in Salisbury this week.

The BHA’s hot weather policy states fixtures will be abandoned where racecourses fall within a red warning zone.

The organisation says it will managed each fixture on a case-by-case basis.

"Trainers are reminded that horses should not be moved from or through any areas where red heat warnings are in place," it added.

Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England

Many people will be worried about keeping their pets cool during this week's extreme heat.

Here are some tips from the British Veterinary Association:

• Make sure they have access to fresh water, ventilation and shade at all times
• Provide them with a cool mat and fan indoors
• For rabbits and guinea pigs, provide extra shade by covering the top of wire mesh runs with damp towels
• Lightly mist rabbits’ ears with cold water to help cool them, as long as this does not stress them

• Put your palm flat on the tarmac for five seconds. If it feels too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog’s paws

• Watch out for early signs of heatstroke, such as heavy panting, drooling, restlessness, bright red or very pale gums, and a lack of coordination

• Signs of heatstroke in rabbits include drooling, salivating, lethargy, short and shallow breaths, red and warm ears, wet nose and seizures

If you suspect your pet has heatstroke or any other heat-related condition, take it to a cool, well-ventilated place, give it small amounts of cold water to drink and seek immediate advice from your vet.

Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
West of England

Dog owners are being advised to stick to early morning and late evening walks to avoid exercising their pets during the hottest parts of the day.

Each summer, vets across the West report treating dogs for heatstroke, burnt paw pads, sunburn and breathing difficulties, with some sadly unable to be saved.

The British Veterinary Associations says dogs are unable to cool down quickly through sweating, making them vulnerable to overheating and meaning even a short walk in the middle of the day, or being locked in a car for a few minutes, can be fatal.

Runners who were ready to take part in the Frampton 10k will now have to wait after organisers postponed it due to the hot weather.

The event's safety team and director says the risk of severe exertional heat illness was "simply too high to safely manage".

"As a community club, the health and safety of our runners, volunteers, and the wider public must always come first," they said.

The team is looking for a replacement date and says all existing entries will be automatically transferred.

Chloe Harcombe
West of England

Image source, Getty Images

Weather patterns are changing as the world has been warming up quickly over the past 100 years.

The World Meteorological Organisation says the world’s 11 warmest years on record have all happened since 2015.

Natural weather patterns are partly to blame. El Niño - which occurs in the Pacific Ocean roughly every two to seven years - has officially started and many forecasts suggest it could end up among the strongest ever recorded.

The phenomenon occurs when the winds blowing across the ocean change direction, causing warmer water to spread elsewhere.

But this natural weather pattern is not entirely to blame, as experts say human activities have also impacted global temperatures.

Our widespread use of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

These gases rise up and act like a blanket, trapping extra energy and causing the planet to heat up.

Dr Will Lang, from the Met Office, says: “These heatwaves are becoming more frequent and more severe due to the changing climate”.

Bea Swallow
West of England

At the Pantry in the Old Town of Swindon, Sam Chopra says the independent coffee shop will stay open this week, with fans blowing in the kitchen to circulate heat.

He added one fridge has been stocked completely full of cold drinks to keep customers hydrated, with a back-up store around the back.

"Most of our customers are elderly and a lot of them want to avoid the heat, so this week we'll more likely get the passers-by," he said.

"We take care of our staff as well. The staff can have as many water breaks as they need, and lots of breaks for a breather."

Chris Lockyer
West of England

Rough sleepers in Somerset will get support during the heatwave after the council activated its extreme weather provision.

Usually only associated with cold weather, the Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) increases welfare checks across the county. It will see rough sleepers offered water, suncream and hats, as well as details about where to find further support.

It will be in place until Thursday - the public can contact Street Link, external with concerns for those who may need help.

Bea Swallow
West of England

As the sun continues to beat down on the West's infrastructure, more delays and disruption emerge.

West Somerset Railway say due to the current weather warning, it has taken the decision to cancel all services from 23-25 June.

"Staff and customer welfare is paramount along with protection of our infrastructure and it is felt the risk in the extreme heats forecast, is too high for us to do this," the firm says in a statement.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused. We look forward to welcoming you to the West Somerset Railway once temperatures reach a safer level."

Image source, Getty Images

Fewer trains are also able to run on all lines between Reading and London Paddington as services are cancelled or revised., external

"The extreme heat forecasted this week can lead to an increase in points failures. Points are the moving pieces of metal that enable trains to change tracks," says GWR.

"To reduce the risk of this, Network Rail are not moving some of these points to protect the key route into London."

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

The heat is spreading from continental Europe where an extremely intense hot spell has developed.

In parts of western France, the mercury is expected to climb to 43C or 44C over the next few days.

Red heatwave alerts have been issued for about half of France for Monday, with nearly 850 schools closed and 1,500 more allowing pupils to leave early.

Paris is likely to reach 40C which would be unprecedented for June, while temperatures in Belgium are expected to be "the hottest ever recorded".

Bea Swallow
West of England

Image source, Getty Images

With temperatures set to soar this week, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service warns the extremely dry conditions can provide the perfect kindling for wildfires.

To help minimise the risk of sparks spreading, the fire service is urging the public to only use designated, barbecue-safe areas and never light a fire on dry grass.

"Keep barbecues supervised at all times and no open fires in the countryside," it added.

"It only takes a moment for a fire to start. Please act responsibly and help protect Gloucestershire."

Bea Swallow
West of England

Image source, Getty Images

Residents are being advised to put their bins out earlier than usual this week as councils across the West try to shield collection crews from the hottest parts of the day.

Crews from Cheltenham Borough Council and Somerset Council will begin collections an hour earlier, at 06:00 BST, while Bristol Waste will start rounds from 05:00.

Cheltenham Borough councillor Steve Harvey said: "This is to help our crews and vehicles cope in the heat and ensure that they're able to complete the scheduled collections."

The changes come a month after hot weather caused disruption to bin collections in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, including numerous lorry breakdowns and malfunctioning mechanisms.

Bea Swallow
West of England

The heatwave comes after at least 18 people in the UK died after getting into trouble in open water during a hot spell in May.

"We're asking for everybody to just be very wary around bodies of water," said Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge.

"In the last heatwave, unfortunately, quite a few people lost their lives by going into cold water."

He added: “That’s still very much an issue, so just be careful how you cool yourself down.

“If there’s the option between a hose pipe and jumping in the lake, probably go for the hose pipe and just keep yourself safer.”

Image source, Getty Images