The Met Office has issued a ‘heatwave health watch warning’ to Burnham-On-Sea residents as the hot spell of weather continues.
It comes after temperatures in Burnham reached a record for the year on Thursday (July 18th) of 30.1C at 5.42pm.
The heatwave warning has been raised to “level three” by the Met Office for the whole south-west of England.
The warning alerts healthcare services to help those in high-risk groups such as the elderly and young children.
The Met Office says: “There will be a good deal of very warm, locally hot, sunshine, during the next five days – up to and including Monday 21st July. The weather is expected to peak on Friday –and become less hot for the weekend and early next week but still be warm.”
There is also a risk of heavy thundery showers late on Sunday, Sunday night and early Monday.
Meanwhile, Burnham-On-Sea residents have also this week been urged to keep an eye out for elderly or frail people who may be struggling to cope in the heatwave.
Somerset County Council is asking neighbours, friends and relatives to keep an eye out for anyone who may need help maintaining their health as the temperatures soar.
Somerset County Council’s health and well-being cabinet member Christine Lawrence, said: “Intense heat can be as perilous to health as the cold, with the effects of dehydration or heatstroke being severe and the symptoms often coming on very quickly.”
“Making sure someone is keeping their home cool, drinking plenty of water and not having to do any strenuous activity in the heat will go a long way to keeping them healthy.”
