The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued its first amber heat-health alert (HHA) of 2026, warning that high temperatures over the coming days may put vulnerable people at increased risk and reminding health and social care services to prepare for further alerts over the summer as temperatures rise.
The current heat-health alert in place for the West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, South East and London regions will be escalated to amber from 2 pm on Friday 22 May. This alert will remain in place until 5 pm on Wednesday 27 May.
In addition, a yellow heat-health alert will be in place for the North East, North West, South West, and Yorkshire and the Humber regions for the same period.
Under UKHSA and the Met Office’s Weather-Health alerting system, an amber heat-health alert means that any impacts will likely include:
– increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable populations
– an increase in risk to health for individuals aged over 65 years or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases
Dr Anya Gopfert, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA, said:
“We know that even moderate heat can lead to serious health problems, especially for older people and those with certain health conditions, so it’s important that everyone takes simple precautions while enjoying the warm weather over the coming days.
“If you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.
“There are simple steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather, such as:
– keeping your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
– if you do go outside, covering up with suitable clothing, such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, seeking shade, and applying sunscreen regularly
– keeping out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11 am and 3 pm
– if you are going to do physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), planning to do this during cooler times of the day, such as the morning or evening
– knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them”
