Heatwaves & Hot Weather
A heatwave is an extended period of hot weather. In the UK the heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three days in a row with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. The threshold varies by UK county from 25 to 28 degrees.
On this Page: What to do / How to Prepare / How to recover / Supporting your Community / Protecting your Business
What to do
Monitoring and Planning
- Keep an eye on Met Office Extreme Heat warnings and heat‑health alerts.
- Check the latest weather forecasts via TV, radio, apps, or websites.
- Plan journeys and activities with the heat in mind and carry emergency supplies in your vehicle.
Looking after yourself and others
- Check in on people who may struggle to stay cool or hydrated — especially older adults, people with underlying conditions, and those living alone.
- If you live alone, arrange for a relative or friend to call during extreme heat.
Staying Safe Outdoors
- Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm, when UV rays are strongest.
- Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen, and wear a wide‑brimmed hat.
- Use cool public spaces considerately.
- Avoid physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day.
- Always take water with you when travelling.
Staying Safe Indoors
- Close curtains on sun‑facing rooms to keep indoor spaces cooler.
- Remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors at times.
Other things you can do
- Never leave anyone — especially infants, young children, or animals — in a closed, parked vehicle.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Avoid excess alcohol, which increases dehydration risk.
- If entering open water, take care and follow local safety advice.
We can all be better prepared
The ‘Are you ready’ booklet brings together advice from various organisation to help you and your family take simple steps to reduce risk, prepare for and respond to emergencies such as fire, flood and loss of power.
Sign up for weather warnings
Sign up for weather warnings by phone, text or email
Check your equipment
Sunscreen, insect repellent, hay fever medicine, water, and a sun hat.
Check weather health alarts
Adverse temperatures may affect health and wellbeing.
Check your vehicle
Before summer trips, top up screen wash and check tyres, coolant and oil.
Check Pollen Levels
Get the Met Office App to keep an eye on the forecast.
Look out for your neighbours
Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk.
Recovering from heatwave & hot weather
Contact your insurance company if your home or belongings are damaged: they should help you find local contractors to complete repairs and help you replace items that are covered by your insurance plan.
If you rent your property, speak to your landlord to make sure they’re aware of any damage to the property that they need to repair.
Contact your family, relatives and friends so you know they are safe and well.
Supporting your Community
Community resilience means people and neighbourhoods using local skills, knowledge and resources to look after themselves and each other during emergencies, working alongside but not replacing emergency services. Being prepared—knowing the risks you face, having basic plans for your household, and identifying neighbours who may need extra help—reduces harm and speeds recovery, especially when responders must prioritise the most urgent cases.
Many communities formalise this readiness with a simple Community Emergency Plan template and supporting guidance, which captures practical arrangements and contact details, so groups can act quickly and coherently. Testing those plans is equally important: simple checks (for example, a call‑out to verify contacts) or full exercises (such as opening a local Place of Safety) reveal gaps and build confidence. Local multi‑agency groups, like the LRF Community Resilience Group in Gloucestershire, provide a toolkit, guidance and workshops to help communities prepare and practise.
Protecting your Business
Business continuity management (BCM) ensures that an organisation can continue operating during disruptions. It involves analysing business processes, assessing risks, and creating plans to maintain critical functions. Key steps include identifying potential threats, evaluating their impact, and developing strategies to mitigate risks.
The BCM plan should include clear procedures for recovery, regular testing, and updates. It also covers compliance with regulations like the Protect Duty, which addresses counter-terrorism measures. Regular testing ensures the plan’s effectiveness and readiness in case of emergencies. Business continuity management helps organisations identify the risks that could interrupt operations and put in place proportionate plans to reduce disruption and recover quickly. It’s essential because businesses with continuity arrangements are far more likely to survive major incidents—flooding, fire, cyberattacks or staff shortages—and small firms in particular can suffer disproportionate harm from even short interruptions. A simple, common‑sense approach—gather colleagues, list core activities, and assess what might go wrong and how likely it is—will reveal the biggest remaining risks to plan for.