40 Celsius in the UK next week...what will happen?

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OK apparently they reckon temperatures are going to rise up to 43 Celsius this week or next week, and I don't think it's ever gotten in the 40s in the UK before. I like hot weather but I'm a bit worried about this extreme. Will everything burst into flames? Will people die? Will things stop working? What will it affect? How will we survive? Is it liveable? Don't forget, the UK isn't a tropical country so we aren't used to temperatures as high as 40+. Typically it gets not much hotter than 36 Celsius over here. Yet Poland is only like 15 Celsius and usually Poland gets heatwaves in the summer. So I don't know what that's all about.

Not likely, although the fire hazard will be high.It is likely that more people will die during a heat wave than during moderate temperatures.If there are power failures, yes.  Air conditioners that have not been maintained will likely fail too.People, mostly; especially infants, the elderly, and people with compromised health.  Pets may also be affected.DRINK LOTS OF WATER.  Maintain ventilation and air flow (run fans).  Seek shade and cool places, like basements, cellars, air-conditioned rooms, and "Cooling Shelters" (places set up by your government to provide cooler environments.It is livable, but not comfortably so.  Wear loose clothing, or as little clothing as you are comfortable with.  Cold showers and baths may be helpful.  Stay hydrated.A quick conversion chart:

25.0°C =   77.0°F
26.0°C =   78.8°F
27.0°C =   80.6°F
28.0°C =   82.4°F
29.0°C =   84.2°F
30.0°C =   86.0°F
31.0°C =   87.8°F
32.0°C =   89.6°F
33.0°C =   91.4°F
34.0°C =   93.2°F
35.0°C =   95.0°F
36.0°C =   96.8°F
37.0°C =   98.6°F
38.0°C = 100.4°F
39.0°C = 102.2°F
40.0°C = 104.0°F
41.0°C = 105.8°F
42.0°C = 107.6°F
43.0°C = 109.4°F
44.0°C = 111.2°F
45.0°C = 113.0°F

At least I can pack light when I visit in a few weeks.

Seriously, some could die from heat exhaustion.
We regularly get such temperatures here in summer but I guess we're more used to it.
Schools will close when the temp goes over 40.
Then its lots of sitting around under air con or in the shade outside or in the pool.
Plus our houses were built to deal with the heat (high ceilings, on high stumps, verandahs etc.)

Most homes in the UK don't have air con. And I'm not sure the government provide cooling shelters.

I worry about my pets, and my boyfriend because he's vulnerable (not sure how dangerous it is for middle-aged men who have COPD and diabetes). I live in a built up city so hopefully there won't be much chance of forest fires here. I don't know about cars and buses though. Maybe there'll be more work for me to do if coaches break down, as I work in a depot. It's cool indoors at work but I worry the air con might burn out or something.

Will apartment buildings randomly catch fire in extreme heat? I will kill myself if I lost all of my precious belongings and pets.

There's likely more chance of buildings catching fire in extreme cold, with unsafe heaters in use.
Buildings won't spontaneously ignite because of heat.

Stock up on everything you might need: lots of water, medicines, FANS, hair ties, pet food, etc.
You won't want to go out to buy anything.
Try to eat up any perishable food in case your fridge dies.
Keep your devices charged at all times.

We've had a lot of power cuts here lately so I've been through the drill.

I wish I could send you some AC.

They are talking about temperatures being about 36 Celsius (96 Fahrenheit) for a maximum temperature in the UK this weekend. No reference to 40 Celsius.

In the area where my wife's son lives, it's supposed to go up to 29 Celsius on the 17th (that's 85 Fahrenheit).

Look at the Met Office UK website for information.

I do wish you had more air-conditioning....certainly.

It has reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit in London previously. No buildings on fire. Just try to keep cool. Take cool showers. Maybe get an air-conditioner, if you could afford it.

I did look on the BBC weather app that I have got but they tend to exaggerate the temperatures in the summer, for example if it's going to be 25 it'll only say 20. Right now it says 32 for the coming week.

But anyway, it doesn't seem feasible for UK temperatures to get over 40 Celsius so it's more believable that the heatwave will consist of 35 Celsius on average. That is bearable. Well, for me anyway. I like it to be anywhere over 24.

i prefer heat to the cold but i hope it doesnt get that hot

Does that account for humidity?

Usually humidity adds to hot temperatures.
It's called "Humidex".

Maybe it will be 35 but feel like 40 with the humidex.

It's similar to windchill here.
Quite often it will be -25 but feel like -30 or colder with the windchill.

The AVERAGE maximum temperature in NYC is about 30 Celsius in the summer.

I'm not sure.

Anyway I hope intense thunderstorms conclude all this heat. I love hearing the thunder, although I do get anxious about lightning striking my habitat and catching fire...

I won't say it'll be a non-event, but it'll almost certainly be okay. Hype, Hype, Hype.

Not meaning to trivialize this, but your post did remind me of this classic 1960s release, from the 1:00 mark!

Do you have a fan? If not, you should get a fan. They're not expensive.

We don't have the humidex in the US----but we have the "wind chill."

We used to have something similar called the "T.H.I," the "temperature/humidity index."

These days, the combination of heat and humidity in the US is called the "heat index."

Last edited by kraftiekortie on 11 Jul 2022, 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I have the opposite problem right now.
I'm frozen most of the time in summer because of our AC.
It needs to be Icelandic in here for the air to reach upstairs.

I'm wrapped in blankets and shivering.

I do feel for you though.
There's nothing worse than humidity.

* Thunderstorms rock! I hope you get some good ones! *

Well I suppose I should know better after seeing so many news articles year after year on all of England being under 5 feet of snow for the whole duration of winter, only to find the winter being mild and wet yet again with very little to no snow at all - yet people still buy into it every year!

Maybe it's the same with the heatwave. "The UK will face temperatures scorching up to 45 Celsius" - only to find that the temperature is around the usual 33-34.

There is worse than humidity - and that's being freezing cold. I hate the winter and the snow, but I do enjoy cold nights because I can sleep better.