People living in the UK are being urged to sleep downstairs tonight. Temperatures are set to rise to blistering highs of 34C in parts of the country today (August 12), with Monday forecast to become the hottest day of 2024 so far.
The hot weather is expected to continue overnight, making tonight a particularly uncomfortable one for millions across the nation. As hot air rises, people are being advised to consider sleeping downstairs, as well as having a lukewarm shower before bed and using a lightweight duvet, as reported by Birmingham Live.
Humid and hot air can impact your breathing, potentially worsening symptoms of asthma and other lung conditions, such as shortness of breath and wheezing. High temperatures can also lead to severe health issues, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
When in a hot room, the body works hard to regulate its temperature, putting additional pressure on the heart and kidneys. Consequently, extreme heat can exacerbate cardiovascular, mental, respiratory, and diabetes-related problems, potentially leading to acute kidney injury.
Not to mention, sleeping in a warm room can keep you in the lighter phases of sleep, making it harder to enter the deeper, more restorative slow-wave sleep. During these lighter stages, you may find it easier to wake up.
According to the Met Office, today is forecast to be "a very hot and humid day in the south with some sunny spells and staying largely dry." A spokesperson added: "Some isolated afternoon thunderstorms are possible in eastern England. Cooler in the north with spells of heavy rain and thunderstorms during the morning."
In York and Hull, temperatures are expected to reach the highest, with 35C likely around lunchtime. Across the southern half of the UK, figures will reach anywhere between 22C and 34C.
A yellow heat health alert is in place for the majority of the UK today. Regions affected include the East and West Midlands, East of England, South East and West, North West and London. The alert will remain until 9am on Wednesday, August 14.
