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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Level-three heatwave alert for parts of England | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Temperatures are again expected to reach 30C (86F) on Thursday as the heatwave refuses to slacken its grip on Britain and an amber health alert is extended to south-west England and the West Midlands. | Temperatures are again expected to reach 30C (86F) on Thursday as the heatwave refuses to slacken its grip on Britain and an amber health alert is extended to south-west England and the West Midlands. |
| The country experienced the hottest day of the year so far on Wednesday, with the mercury hitting 32.2C (90F) in Hampton in Surrey, making it the sixth consecutive day on which temperatures have risen above 30C (86F). | The country experienced the hottest day of the year so far on Wednesday, with the mercury hitting 32.2C (90F) in Hampton in Surrey, making it the sixth consecutive day on which temperatures have risen above 30C (86F). |
| Britain's first prolonged heatwave since 2006 looks likely to stretch into next week, with temperatures dipping into the high 20s over the weekend before shooting back up to 30C and above. | Britain's first prolonged heatwave since 2006 looks likely to stretch into next week, with temperatures dipping into the high 20s over the weekend before shooting back up to 30C and above. |
| On Thursday morning, the Met Office added south-west England and the West Midlands to the level-three heat health watch that already covers London and the south-east. | On Thursday morning, the Met Office added south-west England and the West Midlands to the level-three heat health watch that already covers London and the south-east. |
| The alert requires social and health workers to focus on the very young, the very old and those with chronic diseases. | The alert requires social and health workers to focus on the very young, the very old and those with chronic diseases. |
| A level-four alert marks the point at which a severe prolonged heatwave is declared a national emergency. | A level-four alert marks the point at which a severe prolonged heatwave is declared a national emergency. |
| Gemma Plumb, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said that despite the high temperatures, stormy weather could be on the way for parts of the UK. | |
| "On Saturday and Sunday it looks like we will have temperatures of around 28C (82.4F) but by Monday we have temperatures of 29C and 30C, with an increased risk of getting some showers," she said. | "On Saturday and Sunday it looks like we will have temperatures of around 28C (82.4F) but by Monday we have temperatures of 29C and 30C, with an increased risk of getting some showers," she said. |
| "Today there is a risk of thunderstorms across parts of south-east Scotland, south Wales and south-west England, but the rest of the country should remain dry." | "Today there is a risk of thunderstorms across parts of south-east Scotland, south Wales and south-west England, but the rest of the country should remain dry." |
| MeteoGroup said average rainfall for England and Wales so far this month was only 15% of the average at 4.9mm, while Thames Water said it had seen a 15% rise in the demand for tap water in London and the Thames valley. | |
| The Met Office said the UK had seen 132 hours of sunshine between 1 July and 15 July, which is 77% of the average sunshine for the whole month. | |
| Average daytime temperatures have also been 2C above average, it said. | Average daytime temperatures have also been 2C above average, it said. |
| Public Health England (PHE) officials have advised people to stay cool, drink lots of cold fluids and keep an eye on those they know to be at risk. | |
| Dr Angie Bone, heatwave plan leader for PHE, said: "In this continued hot weather, it's important to remember that high temperatures can be dangerous, especially for people who may be vulnerable such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses. | Dr Angie Bone, heatwave plan leader for PHE, said: "In this continued hot weather, it's important to remember that high temperatures can be dangerous, especially for people who may be vulnerable such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses. |
| "During very hot weather, pregnant women and people who have chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal conditions, diabetes or Parkinson's disease, may experience discomfort if indoor temperatures are particularly hot and in using public transport. | "During very hot weather, pregnant women and people who have chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal conditions, diabetes or Parkinson's disease, may experience discomfort if indoor temperatures are particularly hot and in using public transport. |
| "Employers should ensure indoor areas are kept cool and consider allowing these individuals to travel to or from their place of work during cooler, or less busy, times of the day. | "Employers should ensure indoor areas are kept cool and consider allowing these individuals to travel to or from their place of work during cooler, or less busy, times of the day. |
| "For those working or exercising outdoors, strenuous physical exertion during the hottest part of the day should be kept to a minimum." | "For those working or exercising outdoors, strenuous physical exertion during the hottest part of the day should be kept to a minimum." |
| On Wednesday, police and fire chiefs reiterated warnings about escaping the heat by swimming in open water after four people died in separate incidents on Tuesday. | On Wednesday, police and fire chiefs reiterated warnings about escaping the heat by swimming in open water after four people died in separate incidents on Tuesday. |
| A 16-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man, from King's Lynn, were found dead in unrelated incidents in lakes at Bawsey Pits, Norfolk. | A 16-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man, from King's Lynn, were found dead in unrelated incidents in lakes at Bawsey Pits, Norfolk. |
| A man, believed to be a 21-year-old from Shropshire, died after getting into difficulties near the confluence of the rivers Dee and Ceiriog on the Shropshire-north-Wales border. | |
| And a 40-year-old woman from Saltash died following what police called a "medical episode" while swimming in the sea at Seaton, near Torpoint in eastern Cornwall. | And a 40-year-old woman from Saltash died following what police called a "medical episode" while swimming in the sea at Seaton, near Torpoint in eastern Cornwall. |
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