The Met Office Chief Scientist has described the upcoming heatwave as a "sobering" event that highlights the impact of "human induced climate change." The rare extreme heat warning covers Wednesday and Thursday this week, affecting Birmingham, the West Midlands, and southern England.
Record-Breaking Temperatures Expected
The current highest temperature recorded in June is 35.6°C, but forecasts suggest this will be surpassed with temperatures reaching 39°C. Professor Stephen Belcher, the Met Office Chief Scientist, stated: "The heatwave this week will be a significant weather event, with a Red Extreme Heat warning issued. Human induced climate change has made events like this more likely and more intense." He added: "To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply."
Climate Change Attribution Studies
Met Office projections indicate that hot spells will become more frequent in the future climate. Many climate attribution studies have shown that human influence increased the chance of specific extreme heat events, such as the summer of 2018 and July 2022.
Cooling Options for Brummies
For those looking to cool down, several Blue Flag beaches are within a few hours' drive from Birmingham. The Blue Flag beach awards were announced in May, with 126 beaches receiving a Blue Flag and/or Seaside Award. Nearby Blue Flag beaches include Rest Bay in Porthcawl (2 hours 38 minutes), Trecco Bay in Porthcawl (2 hours 38 minutes), Borth in Ceredigion (2 hours 43 minutes), Hornsea in Yorkshire (2 hours 51 minutes), Felixstowe North and South in Suffolk (2 hours 52 minutes), Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire (2 hours 52 minutes), Skegness Beach (2 hours 53 minutes), Sutton-on-Sea Beach (2 hours 53 minutes), Three Shells Beach in Southend-on-Sea (2 hours 56 minutes), and Withernsea Central Promenade in East Yorkshire (2 hours 58 minutes).
