Portsmouth residents told to '˜stay indoors' as heatwave warning issued

The Met Office has issued an amber heatwave warning for the region between 9am today and 9am on Wednesday. 

The level three heatwave action alert is the second highest that can be issued behind a national emergency. 

Met Office is warning that there is a 90 per cent probability of heatwave conditions across Portsmouth and Hampshire over the coming days.  Residents are being advised to stay indoors and avoid the sun, with the young, elderly and seriously ill at most risk. 

The following advice has been issued for residents: '˜Stay out of the sun.

Keep your home  as cool as possible '“ shading windows and shutting them during the day may help.

'˜Open them when it is cooler at night. Keep drinking fluids.

'˜If there's anybody you know, for example an older person living on their own, who might be at special risk, make sure they know what to do.'

Although there is no official definition of a 'heatwave' in the UK, the term can be used to describe an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year. A level three amber heatwave action warning is issued by the Met Office when the threshold temperatures for one of more regions have been reached for one day and the following night, and the forecast for the next day has a greater than 90 per cent confidence level that the day threshold temperature will be met.

Threshold temperatures vary from region to region it is on average around 30 degrees. 

The Met Office is forecasting highs of 27C today in Portsmouth as well as 26C tomorrow (August 7). 

A level four national emergency heatwave alert is issued by the Met Office when  a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system.

At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups.