(Bloomberg) -- The UK Met Office issued its most severe warning for heat next week, forecasting that temperatures could hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time.
Extreme heat could lead to power outages, canceled flights and may be a danger to life while the so-called Red Extreme warning is in place across parts of southern England on Monday and Tuesday. It's a reminder of the risks posed by climate change.
“Climate change has already influenced the likelihood of temperature extremes in the UK,” said Nikos Christidis, climate attribution scientist at the Met Office, in a statement. “The chances of seeing 40°C days in the UK could be as much as 10 times more likely in the current climate than under a natural climate unaffected by human influence.”
There is a 50% chance that temperatures could climb above 40 degrees and an 80% that records will be broken, according to Paul Gundersen, the agency's chief meteorologist. The nation's previous highest recorded temperature was 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.66 Fahrenheit) in Cambridge Botanic Garden in July 2019.
London could be particularly affected, as the city creates a heat island effect. Buildings retain heat at night, requiring more artificial cooling. The Met Office warned that working practices and daily routines will need to change substantially during the extreme hot spell.
The hot air will ease from the middle of the week as cooler weather moves in from the west.
(Updates with latest forecast from first paragraph.)
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