Heat health alert updated for the South West

The yellow heat health alert is in effect from 9AM on 14/07/2026 until 9PM on 17/07/2026 across the South West. The yellow alert has a matrix score of 10. This means:

Significant impacts are possible across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:

• a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
• a likely increase in demand for health services
• internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
• the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
• indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
• water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning

You can see all the weather health alerts currently in place across England on the UKHSA data dashboard.

How to take action if you have a duty to respond

Please review the Weather Health Alert System user guidance to explain how you can use the information contained within the alerts to respond to the forecast weather.

We provide guidance on how to take action for a range of professional groups with a duty to respond, with action cards available for commissioners, health and social care providers, voluntary and community sector, and national government.Summary action cards are also available below:

· commissioners

· voluntary and community sector

· care homes and other residential settings

· services delivering care to people in their homes

· hospitals and other healthcare settings

For an overview of the weather alerts in place across England, please check the UKHSA data dashboard.

The Met Office may issue National Severe Weather Warnings (for example, extreme heat) with short notice, so you can take appropriate action. Check the Met Office Website to see the National Severe Weather Warnings currently in place.

You can also find information of the latest weather forecast on the Met Office website.

How to protect yourself if you are vulnerable

While exposure to hot weather can affect anyone, some people are particularly at risk. We have published guidance on staying safe during hot weather.

Planning for adverse weather

All organisations should read the Adverse Weather and Health Plan. This is important if you provide health and social care. The plan explains what you should do before and while a heat health alert is in place.

To support local planning, please check the guidance on local resilience forums.

About heat health alerts

Chief executives of the following organisations in England receive heat health alerts:

· health trust providers of NHS commissioned care

· local authorities

· social care organisations

The Heat-Health Alert Service in England runs from 1 June to 30 September each year, in partnership with the Met Office. This is the period when high temperatures are likely to occur.

If we observe high temperatures outside of this period, we will issue an extraordinary heat health alert. If this happens, stakeholders should take the usual public health actions.

You can share this email with your organisation or sign up to receive alerts using our registration form. We have a separate form if you would like to update your registration details.

Please let us know if you have a question or have a problem with your subscription. You can also unsubscribe from this service.

UKHSA and the Met Office use the Risk Matrix to assign a risk score for each alert. Users can refer the alert’s risk score to the matrix to understand the severity of the alert and likelihood of its impact.

Updates to heat health alerts

UKHSA and the Met Office make daily risk assessments. We will issue a new alert should the alert level change.

Further Advice and guidance

Flood Alerts and Warnings

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Forecast issued by the Met Office on behalf of UKHSA on Monday, 13, July, 2026 at 14:09

View current Weather-Health Alerting situation

Overview of hot weather over the next 5 days

Largely dry and settled with light NE'ly winds and above-average temperatures across all the south and central areas. Breezy along the coast in the northeast and east. Night-time temperatures may locally remain above 16°C in southern areas. Cooler conditions are expected towards the north and east coast.

Overview of hot weather over the next 6 to 15 days

High pressure is expected to be centered to the north or northwest of the UK, bringing settled conditions, especially across the north. Temperatures above average, with very warm or hot conditions possible, especially in the south and west.

Overview of hot weather over the next 16 to 30 days

Low confidence regarding this period, but temperatures are likely to remain above average, with a chance of further hot weather, especially in the south.

NE = North East | NW = North West | YH = Yorkshire and The Humber | EM = East Midlands | WM = West Midlands | EoE = East of England | Lon = London | SE = South East | SW = South West

For further information, please refer to the UKHSA Adverse Weather and Health Plan

All other enquiries can be directed to enquiries@ukhsa.gov.uk