The Met Office, the UK’s national meteorological service, describes a heatwave as ‘an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity.’

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a Yellow Heat Health Alert – the second of four tiers of alerts triggered by a 60% chance of temperatures to have a significant effect on health for two consecutive days. It is predicted to last from July 29 to August 2. Although this heat is not likely to severely impact most people, it could have an effect on the vulnerable and elderly.

Previously, the hottest day of the year was in St James’s Park in London on July 19 with the temperature recorded at 31.9°C. The hottest day ever in the UK was recorded in 2022 at Coningsby, Lincolnshire with the temperature being 40.3°C – just 8 degrees more than yesterday.

Daisy, 20, said she “doesn’t like it” and is glad she wasn’t working. Francis, 16, from Birmingham felt similarly and said the heat was “getting” to her.

However Nigel, 55, who has lived in Oxford his whole life, says it doesn’t affect him much as it used to be warmer and the heat “doesn’t last that long these days”.

Foreign teenagers also seem unaffected by the unusually high temperatures. Logan, 17, who is originally from California said “it’s not bad” when asked about it.

The groups who may be at risk during the upcoming heatwave are: people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities or pre-existing conditions, emergency responders, outdoor workers, incarcerated people, pregnant people, and athletes.

However, the most severely affected are children as they can’t regulate temperature as well as adults and are dependent on adults for protection against heat.

Exposure to high temperatures, rising due to climate change, can cause heat stress which negatively affects people, especially children. According to UNICEF rising temperatures killed an estimated 377 children in 2021 across 23 European and Asian Countries.

Experts advise to stay hydrated and avoid easily heated places, such as cars. Electric fans and air conditioning might also help with coping with the heat. It is also recommended to refrain from athletic activities.