The United Kingdom is preparing for its third heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) in the South East by the end of the week, according to the Met Office. Highs could reach 29C (84F) on Sunday, rising to the low 30s on Tuesday and Wednesday.
This anticipated heat follows a record-breaking June, which saw temperatures hit 37.7C (99.9F) in Lingwood, Norfolk. Earlier in May, London recorded a peak of 35.1C (95.2F), surpassing the previous record for the month set in 1922.
The Met Office described the upcoming heatwave as a prolonged spell lasting all week, though potentially less hot and humid than the June event. Yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for several regions, including the East Midlands, East, South East, South West, London, and West Midlands, effective from midday Sunday until July 11.
Health and social care services are reportedly prepared for an increase in requests from individuals at higher risk due to the heat. Southern Water has cited the warmest spring on record, coupled with a record heatwave, as reasons for river levels being approximately 25 percent lower than expected.
In response to the dry conditions, Southern Water has implemented a temporary garden hosepipe ban for over a million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, starting July 10. South East Water's temporary ban for customers in Kent began the previous Friday.
The article also notes a separate study from Jilin University in China, which suggests a link between high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and an increased likelihood of developing severe depression. Researchers found that individuals who regularly consumed sugary drinks were up to 19 percent more likely to develop depression or be hospitalized for the condition, potentially due to impacts on gut bacteria and inflammation affecting brain chemistry.