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Now the met office is giving red alert for the extreme heat forecast is anyone actually seriously worried about the heat alert or is it doom mongering? Got an email saying my kids school is closing monday and Tuesday due to the heat and advised to not drive anywhere and wfh by my employer (fine with that!)
Can't help but think media are making a big deal of it unnecessarily... But interested to hear other opinions! It's unusual for the UK for sure and I guess due to the fact most of us don't have aircon at home / swimming pools / beach / sea to enjoy (unless you are lucky where you live) these kind of warnings hit harder at home....
We are British, we love news about the weather.
It may seem like Doom Mongering now, but the tarmac will melt when it gets hot enough. Then the roadies will turning to mountain bikers for advice while the car drivers are all stuck.
Think potholes are bad, wait till most of the roads have melted.
*Heat warning. Still time to edit.. please do.... 😉
Can’t help but think media are making a big deal of it unnecessarily
People are going to die of heatstroke in this. Old and vulnerable people. So yeah, you might be ok, but it's not aimed at you.
We've got 30 forecast from Met Office and 35 from the BBC. I've never seen it over 30 here in Cardiff, I don't think.
Haa thanks molgrips! Obviously another issue with heat = sausage fingers 🙂
Cardiff seems pretty cool to where I am in SE. Was at my folks yesterday on the bay and quite pleasant compared to home! Guess it's a good time to be living by the sea.
I'm not sure folk in this country have an appreciation of just what 40 Degrees feels like. Low 30's can be pretty uncomfortable, it's going to be really quite hard for the fit and healthy. For the young and vulnerable, those temps are really quite serious.
Having told you all to take it seriously, I am considering going for a ride. I've done many over 30C rides in other parts of the world, but I would look like a right tit.
Think potholes are bad, wait till most of the roads have melted.
Nah. Best thing for potholes. Tarmac melting fills 'em innit??? 😂😂😂
Molgrips - ha managed about 40 mins round swinley yesterday before I headed home in a ball of sweat / tears / thirst and disappointment
I got to experience 3 or 4 days in the south of France in a caravan a couple of years ago, with temperatures hovering around 37 degrees. I had taken my bike but at no point did I feel like riding it. Let us know how you get on Molgrips 🙂
What tyres for melted bitumen?
Fire XCs
It's forecast 37 for here on Tuesday and we're just on the edge of the red zone. I'll be at work in my south facing, all glass, non air conditioned office.
I might get away with wearing shorts but only if the big boss is working from home.
Us normals have just got to suck it up haven't we.
We’ve barely reached 20 degrees at all this year in the Western Isles, plus we’ve had record rainfall. What is this ‘extreme heat’ you’re getting all hot and bothered about?
I’ve ordered 5,000 bottles of water for the bus stations I’m responsible for. I might even need to order more on Monday as never had to deal with this kind of temperature over more than 24 hours here in Sheffield.
It’ll be the elderly who get hit by this for definite. I’m just waiting for news of pensioners passing out on buses and trams through work next week too.
The challenge with the UK is these temperatures are also often accompanied by relatively high humidity too. I worked in Riyadh once for a while in August which was insanely hot (50+ degrees some days) but was actually quite tolerable as humidity was almost zero.
Our kids are being sent home at 12:30 to be at home in the highest temps (London).
Our old cat is already sprawled on the floor tiles rather than his favourite cushion, I’m wondering if this’ll be the end of him. My daughter - not know to sugar coast her words says “he sleeps in shapes like his practising dying “ 😳
Oof limbo jimbo! I spent 6 months out in UAE a few years ago. That was heat I NEVER want to experience again. 42 deg every day plus... But at least I had air con! No one walks anywhere ever! Within one minute of walking out the nice cool apartment I was dripping with sweat and seriously considering my life choices. Hated that place.
Can anyone tell me why our train tracks give up when it gets a bit warm? I don't recall this happening when travelling on the TGV...
Yes I’m worried about my daughters cat. He is a ragdoll and looks like a small fluffy sheep…he is also a big part of her emotional support right now
Any tips on keeping a congenitally stupid ball of fur cool in 35 degrees?
Any tips on keeping a congenitally stupid ball of fur cool in 35 degrees?
My kids have suggested shaving ours!
What mogrips said, heat causes fatalities mostly in the older population, and people with underlying conditions. Excess deaths from heat are probably the biggest 'environmental' killer. Over 36°C (in the shade temperature) becomes very, very difficult to deal as you need latent heat from evaporation of sweat/wet hair/towels on your forehead to reduce your body temperature, and of course metabolic heat from moving around makes it worse. We have over a 1,000 extra deaths each year when the night-time temps are high, e.g. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-mortality-monitoring-reports/heat-mortality-monitoring-report-2021
Definitely something to take seriously if you are a workplace with people outside/in the sun or people who have to do manual work. Otherwise just be sensible. As with the pandemic, the main thing for the fit and healthy is to avoid unnecessary risks to make as much capacity in the NHS as possible for emergencies. Most NHS hospitals are under severe strain already so they probably won't cope and there will be avoidable deaths unfortunately.
Been hotter abroad, in Spain and Turkey, however i didnt have to do anything i didnt want to and could retreat to either the pool or aircon when i wanted.
Old and vulnerable people. So yeah, you might be ok, but it’s not aimed at you.
Given the demographic on this website it probably is aimed at us
Can anyone tell me why our train tracks give up when it gets a bit warm? I don’t recall this happening when travelling on the TGV…
Because they weren't originally designed and specified for the higher temperatures more commonly experienced in other, hotter, countries?
I'd think the offset gaps are smaller in college countries.
Spain may have bigger gaps and no offset.
Expansion gaps that is.
Having worked in 45*c and 80%+ humidity in Myanmar, after I've put my waving willy away, I will be enjoying the warmth* that makes it as far as Scotland.
Stumpy - I think that's the crux.. On holiday you expect it and have pools / air con etc. And can just be like a cat and do naff all
Kona girl - nice reply. Thanks for the info. I am indeed a little worried about older folks and people forced to work in this heat. I am not downplaying it at all.
Richie - yeah that's so true 🙂 42 red head and balding. With a bmi increasing every week... I am not built for sun and this heat for sure! (but I still do ride my bikes regularly he he)
I’m not sure folk in this country have an appreciation of just what 40 Degrees feels like
Being English we always get up late and end up riding mid day when on holiday abroad. One year, in Portugal, we were thinking this is flipping hot - passed a pharmacy and the temp thing read 40C!
It was like riding into a hair dryer....
I think it's entirely sensible to make a point out of someone unusual for us Brits.
After all we are very stupid a lot of the time. There's plenty of evidence.
I've ridden before 10am in 40 degrees in Vegas and the guy who took us said plenty of people die out here.
So yeah worth a heads up.
You can work with the weather, go early, drink, stay in shaded areas where possible but it's good to know it's coming.
Any tips on keeping a congenitally stupid ball of fur cool in 35 degrees?
Lots of those gel pet cooling mats on Amazon? The dog has a paddling pool she sits in, but guess not much use for a cat.
Tarmac melting! I hadn't thought of that. If it is then I prob would have to not work...
Lots of those gel pet cooling mats on Amazon?
Our cats refuse to sit on it!
However, we did buy an Aircon unit the other day - £250 from Homebase..
Now gone back to full price....
https://www.homebase.co.uk/portable-air-conditioner-8000-btu/12826720.html
Paddling pool not a silly idea - ragdolls like water
So serious question for those close to roads... What makes our tarmac melt at such a low (comparable) temp compare to other roads in Europe / international? I guess there is a cost saving associated with lowering the melting point and saving on various fillers etc. (reducing cost).
I do remember in the last heat wave (2019 ish?) picking slabs and stones off melted tarmac off the driveway. Fun at the time... But still looks crap now!
I’ve experienced 40+ heat many times, only once worked in it, that was not much fun. Will be working all next week in a big field with no shade, we’ll reschedule as much as possible so working at 5am and avoid the middle of the day… but there comes a point where you just have to down tools
but guess not much use for a cat.
depends on the cat we had one that would just wade in to mouth level before drinking. Nice cool down for a black long haired moggy.
Any tips on keeping a congenitally stupid ball of fur cool in 35 degrees?
Sudocrem?
It's only 19C in the GeordieLand now ... just rained too.
but there comes a point where you just have to down tools
Pretty much, the wording is risk of illness and death in 'the fit and healthy', so not much point in trying to be the big man
The pureist.. One of my all time favorite threads on here.. Posting for others to enjoy 🙂
https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/sudocrem-cat-we-salute-you/
It's weird that there are minimum working temps in the UK but no max. Would have thought max would be more of a problem due to the inability to cool down? Cold temps you can just layer up... But you can't remove skin.
https://www.gov.uk/workplace-temperatures
Some years ago, I was riding Sun Peaks bike park (in the BC interior) in 43°C whilst wearing full body armour and a matt black full face helmet. Can't say I enjoyed that, but having booked the accommodation and lift tickets, I wanted to get my monies worth...
Have also rode around Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton in same area in slightly lower temps as well as various areas of SW USA but all these areas have much lower humidity which helps.
It’s only 19C in the GeordieLand now … just rained too.
That's because we are in the Land of the Gods
Fire XCs
I've an old pair on my lad's bike....
My parents who are in their 80s are suitably concerned, and positively horrified that I'll be travelling in my air conditioned car to work in my air conditioned office.
I've already had one attempt at persuading MrsMC that having the windows open when it is warmer outside than it is inside will not be helpful. She didn't seem convinced
It's been 33C in my office this week for long periods. It's 27C at the moment. this from the AC unit thermostat - I don't use the unit as it's too noisy, uses too much power and makes you run through heat/chill cycles. A small fan, open velux windows (hence the temp in the loft) and iced water bottles work for me. I rather like the heat and have raced in over 30C. Key for me is dryness of the air.
It's a significant health risk for some and care should be taken. An epidemic of heat related deaths in Greece has previously been reported and euromomo will show a bump in the summer in the hottest countries 🙁
fazzini.. True that. Would give everything to be back in Banchory right now. Bloody love Scotland.
Some **** mp was on R4 earlier saying people were being snowflakes blah blah blah, and we all go on holiday to enjoy 40 degree temps. Old people survived WWII, he said, so they should have no bother with this.
Apparently there were 2,000 excess deaths in the 2020 heatwave, although that lasted a bit longer.
Some **** mp was on R4 earlier saying people were being snowflakes blah blah blah, and we all go on holiday to enjoy 40 degree temps. Old people survived WWII, he said, so they should have no bother with this.
I can't believe they're still allowing Jeremy Corbyn on the airwaves
TiRed yep I try keep windows shut and curtains closed when WFH and in the eve let the air through. Seems better than keeping windows open all day (southern facing)... Think you are dead right on humidity... High heat dry air seems to more cooling (I guess more evaporation?), High humidity means no escape and constant sweating with little cooling effect.
It has been near 40 here in the south of France for a week.
Last monday road ride reached 41 uphill.
Very glad we have a pool, and the river near y.
It's the nanny state gone mad, apparently. I bit like Covid I guess.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19193074/heatwave-britain-weather-warning/
His words are a perfect description of the nanny state zealots of modern Britain who can’t see a ray of sunshine without reaching for the panic button and the health emergency manual.
It's not just about warning the elderly, it's also for all those who think they know better and go out unprepared on long bike rides, or get paralytic as they "enjoy the warm weather" and collapse somewhere, or the descendants of Vikings who strip to waist when temperatures are above 20 degrees, or the employee who succumbs to dehydration in a stifling workplace environment, or all the other people who put extra pressure on the NHS through their lack of reasonable precautions.
Just getting over sunstroke from a trip up Moel Siabod on Tuesday, despite factor 50 sunblock, big hat, long sleeves and walking trousers, not shorts.
Just didn't get enough water down me.
I've never felt so ill as an adult.
Wednesday and Thursday involved shivering and drinking lots of water whilst sat in the shade with my feet in a stream along with a crippling headache.
Lesson learnt.
My cats just don't want to do anything in this heat... They just sit... Eat... Sleep.... Moan... Want attention... Repeat. ****s
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Re: tarmac and trains.
It's down to averages. You could lay a tarmac spec'd for the Middle East, but it would be brittle in winter and crumble to pieces.
Train lines don't have expansion gaps anymore, they're pretensioned and welded together. So above a certain temperature they've expanded enough to lose that tension. You can't tension them too much though as then they'd crack in winter when they try to shrink.
Re: tarmac and trains.
It’s down to averages. You could lay a tarmac spec’d for the Middle East, but it would be brittle in winter and crumble to pieces.
Sure, but a continental climate would be hotter and colder than here. I was wondering what physically is different about train tracks designed for those places.
It's going to be ****ing horrific in a classroom with 30kids and the sun beating down on massive glass windows if it gets up to the 38°C predicted here. Luckily my room gets no sun in morning and hardly any in afternoon due to some well placed trees but other rooms become stuffing on normal summer days, I'll be surprised if it gets that hot and kids don't start dropping. DoE has said not to close schools and keep windows shut... which given we've been wearing coats with windows open for the last few years and that 1:20 have COVID is going to be interesting, my windows will be open!
I was due to go to hebden on the train last Monday to ride, but plans were scuppered. I've got this coming Monday booked off to go instead, but current forecast says 31 degrees in hebden on Monday. Part of me thinks it'll be alright, no pressure, got all day, so take it easy. Part of me thinks, don't be a dick.
Tinas - yeah makes sense. Guess it's all down to the CTE of the materials and "normal operating temp". Spec for the normal and not extremes hence why so much variability..
Interesting on train line tracks... Was under the impression there was compensation for expansion (just like concrete bridges) but perhaps not? Would it not work the other way though... Heat causes expansion and cold causes more tension as the material contracts?
Some tips, in case anyone needs them:
- Close your windows and curtains as early as you can in the morning, to keep the heat out. All that insulation you have in your house for the winter, it works both ways. I am considering putting kitchen foil on the windows on the sunny side of the house. Yeah it'll be dark but it's only for two days.
- If you are really struggling get in your car, park it in the shade and sit with the aircon on if you have nothing else.
- Don't cook anything, obvs. Try making food the night before and just microwaving it - or buy a ready meal.
- Watch TV on a laptop or better still a tablet. The TV will heat up your room a fair bit, it's worth probably 150-200W, whereas your tablet is probably only 10W or so. My wife's been watching on her phone and it has made the living room significantly cooler.
- Also avoid desktop computers, as above. We told our kids to use tablets/phones instead of PCs, also made a difference.
- If you have a hot water tank turn the temperature dial on it right down. This has really helped us as the landing where the airing cupboard is is the hottest part of the house anyway.
Anagallis... I hear ya pain dude. Wife works in the local primary school... No air con single story building. Covid cases going through the roof (20% of kids / staff off)... Probably should have posted about the downplaying of the whole covid debacle but hey covids over right?
Good tips molgrips cheers!
Now the met office is giving red alert for the extreme heat forecast is anyone actually seriously worried about the heat alert or is it doom mongering?
Mock it all you want but people with COPDl, heart failure, frailty, elderly and very young are all very much effected by the heat. Our workload went right up the other day when we hits were in the high 20s, if it hits 30s like predicted it will be worse again.
mrs klunk will move her work from home days as the office has aircon.
the nanny state, doom mongering bull crap is just red top red herrings for the increasingly pink gammons as anthropogenic climate change becomes more difficult to deny.
EuroMOMO excess mortality pre-COVID for Greece. The red dashed line is four standard deviations. For reference, we're at about that now with COVID and were at 40x at peak COVID!
https://www.euromomo.eu/graphs-and-maps/
I've cycled in the USA in around 40c temps. There is the novel effect where going downhill the faster you go the warmer you get rather than the usual cooling effect of a downhill.
I started at 6am to get as much as possible done before noon.
My cats just don’t want to do anything in this heat… They just sit… Eat… Sleep…. Moan… Want attention… Repeat. ****
Hiw can you tell the difference?
Covid cases going through the roof
Yeah, luckily for the windows closed super spreader event next week, I had it two weeks ago so should be fine!!
We're down in Weymouth with the tin shed, 3 days before we came the heater/air blower failed.
Managed to get it in for my man to look at the day before we set off but he couldn't source a new one in time. (Nissan wanted £400 & we're looking at new cars anyway) so we're here with no air con in the car or blower, just a £4.00 USB powered fan from Morrisons.
Feel my pain.
I’m incredibly glad I’m in the workshop now, but even indoors last week with the big doors open at each end, and wearing shorts and a vest top instead of a tee shirt it was getting uncomfortably warm, to the extent that I was spraying myself with the soapy water I use when applying the decals to the cars! Last summer when it was hitting the high 20’s cars were hitting 40 degrees inside, and I burned my fingers picking keys up, last week I had to move a car with black leather seats, and it was unbearably hot, and I was wrapping a tissue around keys because they were too hot to hold! If it hits the high 30’s here, it’ll be hitting around 50 degrees inside parked cars! Thankfully it’s only going to be two days.
Hiw can you tell the difference?
Just came to post the same thing - that's normal behaviour for our cats.
that said tomorrow looks to be a cracking summers day reaching a barmy 25 here 🙂 nice early start for me.
I just hope that no trees at work decide to lose any limbs due to the heat. I don’t fancy doing any chainsaw work next week
I've ridden in high 30's a few times, I'm OK with the heat.
I remember at a hotel in Italy trying to box my bike up for the flight home though (outside in a courtyard) and I was dripping sweat with even the slightest exertion. Kind of embarrassing, I was absolutely soaked!
As mentioned though, people go abroad for heat like this and then sit by pools, go to air conditioned restaurants etc. Over here, none of the infrastructure is designed with this sort of heat.
Fully expecting my Mum (who really doesn't deal well with the heat at all and who lives in the SE) to be really suffering. 🙁
Drac - let me be clear I have not mocked the warning in any way.. Its serious that much I gather. I was simply asking in my OP if the warnings were overkill and given the response on here probably not. Cheers!
My wife has panic-bought an air conditioner and is stressing massively, whereas I'm quite looking forward to the novelty.
It's quite unnerving from a global warning point of view, though.
I’ve panic bought cool pads for my cats
Houns... I hate (love) ish my two cats (****s) forced upon me by family but I like ish (depending on the day) my cats... What cooling pads have you purchased? Save me from throwing the scratchy needy little gits in the paddling pool.
I played cricket in Perth WA in 41 degrees. I remember trying get shade from a telegraph pole. It was savage heat and felt utterly drained at the end of the day. 80 overs in the field. Got told “suck it up Pommy c**t.”
I just put in “pet cooling mat” into Amazon (yeah I know) and picked whichever was in stock and delivered this weekend.
I’ve been in Aus in 40° heat, it wasn’t nice
I think I'll be taking it easy on my cycle commute to work Tuesday. Apparently will be 25-27 degrees in the morning, and 32-30 on the way home. I quite enjoy exercise (not long distance!) in the heat as long as I'm moving enough for the constant airflow and wearing very lightweight clothing.
a_a luckily were on holiday now. But my classroom gets the morning sun and was 38C at 0815..genius of a PT wanted us to do Bunsen burner license with the primaries coming up. My mid room thermometer got up to 42C chuffing brutal.
Looks like I picked a good week to go on holiday. Cyprus is forecast to be cooler and I've cold beer and a pool to ease my weary bones.