Red heat alert
The forecast
Today is set to reach around 37°C, climbing to about 39°C on Wednesday and Thursday before easing from Friday. What makes this one different from the last red heat alert 2022 is the humidity and the run of tropical nights — temperatures that don't drop below 20°C — which give people almost no chance to recover overnight. Alongside the heat, expect very high UV, poor air quality and high pollen, severe wildfire risk, and possibly thunderstorms this evening. This is a significant risk to everyone, not only the usual at-risk groups, and it's expected to increase mortality.
What to look out for
Most at risk are older residents, babies and young children, and anyone with a heart or breathing condition or on regular medication. If you're checking on someone — a neighbour, a relative, a service user — watch for:
- Confusion, unusual drowsiness, or seeming "not themselves"
- Headache, dizziness, or feeling sick
- Heavy sweating, cramps, a fast pulse, or pale, clammy skin
- In older people, hot, dry skin and not drinking enough
- In babies and young children, fewer wet nappies, irritability, refusing feeds, or being floppy and sleepy
These are signs of heat exhaustion. Move the person somewhere cool, give them water, cool their skin. If they don't improve within 30 minutes, or have hot skin but aren't sweating, are confused, or lose consciousness — that's heat stroke, and it's a 999 emergency.
Getting help the right way
Please use 111, your GP or a pharmacy first where you can, and keep Emergency Departments and 999 for genuine emergencies — including heat stroke.
Stay safe near water
With wildfire risk high and people tempted to cool off, the London Fire Brigade is pushing water safety hard. Open water is colder and more dangerous than it looks — swimming in rivers, reservoirs and canals to cool down is not the answer.
Wildfire risk
There is the risk of wildfires. The Fire Brigade are already dealing with heath fires. No barbecues, nothing that could spark, in our parks and open spaces.
Travel
Open sections of the rail and Tube network are most likely to be disrupted; buses and the DLR should run more normally. There may be public advice to avoid all non-essential travel on Wednesday and Thursday — so plan around it, and keep people out of the worst of the heat between 11am and 3pm.
SWEP is in place
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) has been activated for this heatwave. SWEP is short-term shelter for anyone sleeping rough, regardless of local connection or recourse to public funds — and severe weather includes heatwaves, not just the cold. People on the streets are at serious risk in this heat. If you're worried about someone, refer them through StreetLink which alerts the outreach team. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Cool spaces in Hammersmith & Fulham
For the full, confirmed list and opening times, check the Mayor of London's Cool Spaces map filtered to Hammersmith & Fulham: apps.london.gov.uk/cool-spaces.
