As we enter the summer months, it is crucial to understand and prepare for the challenges that heatwaves may pose to our communities.
This page provides valuable insights, resources, and guidance to help you navigate the risks associated with extreme heat. By staying informed and taking proactive measures, we can collectively mitigate the impacts of heatwaves, particularly on those who are often disproportionately impacted by emergencies such as adverse weather events.
Explore the information provided here to enhance your preparedness and response to potential heatwaves in 2026.
Warnings and alerts
About Emergency Alerts
GOV: Emergency Alerts is a UK government system that provides warning and advice in a life threatening emergency. Learn more.
Alerts and warnings
GOV: View the range of alerts and warnings available, some of which are automatic and some that you can sign up to.
Sign up for flood warnings
GOV: Sign up to get flood warnings about flooding from rivers, the sea or groundwater, depending on your area.
Weather-Health Alerting system (User Guide)
Met Office/UKHSA: User guide for the Weather-Health Alert system.
Weather-Health Alerting system (Sign Up)
Met Office/UKHSA: Register to receive both the Heat-Health Alerts and Cold-Health Alerts.
Air pollution forecast
DEFRA: Heatwaves and hot weather can lead to higher levels of air pollution. Check your air pollution levels.
Heatwave and hot weather resources
Government Guidance
Adverse Weather and Health Plan
UKHSA: The Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) aims to protect individuals and communities from the health effects of adverse weather and to build community resilience.
Heat-Health Alert action card for the VCS
UKHSA: This Heat-Health Alert action card summarises the suggested actions that the voluntary and community sector should consider at each Heat-Health Alert level.
Heat-Health Alert action card for the VCS (Summary)
UKHSA: Guidance summarising the suggested actions for the VCS at each Heat-Health Alert level.
Beat the heat: Staying safe in hot weather
UKHSA: Guidance providing advice on how to stay safe during hot weather.
Beat the heat: Staying safe in hot weather (BSL)
UKHSA: Guidance and advice on how to stay safe during hot weather in British Sign Language.
Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather (Easy Read)
UKHSA: Guidance providing advice on how to stay safe during hot weather in an Easy Read format.
Heat summary: Supporting vulnerable people
UKHSA: Information for people who regularly come into contact with vulnerable people in their job roles.
Supporting vulnerable groups: People experiencing homelessness and sleeping rough
UKHSA: Advice for those responsible for people sleeping rough on how to reduce the risks of hot weather to the health of people they provide care for.
WeatherReady campaign
Met Office: Thinking ahead and preparing for the weather that the summer may bring.
10 things you should do now to prepare for summer
Met Office: 10 simple steps to take to stay safe and healthy this summer, from preparing your home, to taking care of yourself, family and neighbours.
Heatwave: How to cope in hot weather
NHS: Guidance on heatwaves, looking at who is at risk and tips for coping in hot weather.
Hot weather and heatwaves
PREPARE: Although many people enjoy warmer, summer weather, they can become unwell through overheating, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Resources from the VCS
Heatwaves in the UK: How to cope with extreme heat
BRC: Learn about heatwaves in the UK, how to cope with extended periods of hot weather as well as tips for first aid and other heatwave advice.
How to prepare for heatwave temperatures
BRC: Advice on how to prepare for a heatwave and what to do to be safe during heatwave temperatures.
Staying cool in summer: Top tips to keep cool in hot weather
BRC: Heatwaves are happening around the world and climate change means they're getting hotter and longer. Here's how to stay cool in the heat.
Heat exhaustion
St John Ambulance: Heat exhaustion usually happens to people who aren't used to hot, humid weather. Find out what to look for and how to perform first aid.
10 tips for keeping children safe during a heatwave
Save the Children: When temperatures skyrocket it can become dangerous. Here are 10 heat safety tips for keeping children safe in a heatwave.
Communities disproportionately impacted
Advice for vulnerable groups during a heatwave
BRC: Advice for groups that are more likely to be impacted by high temperatures and hot weather.
Heatwave guidance: Understanding the effects of heat
BRC: A selection of personas to show how extreme heat can impact different people, describing what they do to prepare ahead of a heatwave and how they stay safe.
How to help rough sleepers in hot weather
Shelter: How professionals can support rough sleepers during hot weather, including heat-health alerts and government guidance.
Supporting individuals during hot weather
Homeless Link: Tips for keeping cool in the heat and recommendations for homelessness services.
Hot weather and high body temperature during pregnancy
National Childbirth Trust (NCT): Being pregnant during hot weather can be challenging. NCT discuss the risks of hot weather and high body temperature during pregnancy, and how to beat the heat.
Staying safe in hot weather
Scope UK: Disabled people can be more affected by hot weather - it can exacerbate existing conditions or impairments. Scope gives their tips to stay safe and manage bills.
Secondary impacts of heatwaves
Drought and wildfire awareness
Public health impact of drought: advice for the public
UKHSA: Information on the potential health impacts of drought in England and the measures that people can take to stay healthy during these events.
Droughts
PREPARE: Every drought is different, and the nature of a drought, its timing and impacts on the environment, agriculture, business, public water supply and people will vary.
Public health impact of drought: advice for the public (BSL)
UKHSA: Information in British Sign Language on the potential health impacts of drought in England and the measures that people can take to stay healthy during these events.
Drought in the UK
BRC: Increasing temperatures and a lack of rainfall means that the UK is heading for a drought. But there are ways we can prepare.
Wildfires
PREPARE: Every year, wildfires destroy large areas of countryside and wildlife habitats, and whilst they can happen at any time of year, they are particularly common in the warmer months when the ground is drier.
Wildfires: How to prevent fires and stay safe
BRC: Wildfires have become more frequent, widespread, and intense in the UK. Here's what to do in hot, dry weather when there's an increased risk of grassfires and wildfires.
Wildfire Aware prevention advice
NFCC: Advice from the National Fire Chiefs Council on preventing wildfires, both at home and when out.
Prepare and protect against wildfire
NFCC: Advice on how to prepare and protect your home and garden against wildfires.
Reducing the risk of wildfires during hot and dry weather
DSFRS: Advice on what to do to reduce the risk of wildfires, or if you have a concern about a neighbour or long grass.
Wildfire safety advice
DSFRS: Advice from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service on preparing for and preventing wildfires, and what to do if you see one.
Wildfire advice for people living in rural areas
DSFRS: Advice for people in rural areas or living on farms on how to prepare for a wildfire and keep your home safe.
Major incident exercise: Wildfires
EP: This exercise, created by the EP Mental Health Network, focusses on what organisations can offer in terms of mental health and psychosocial support when responding to a heatwave/wildfire scenario.
Flash flooding
Flooding and health: Advice for the public
UKHSA: Advice on how to keep you and your family safe while cleaning up your home affected by flooding.
Flooding and health: Advice for the public (Easy Read)
UKHSA: Advice in an Easy Read format on how to keep you and your family safe while cleaning up your home affected by flooding.
Flooding and health: Advice for the public (BSL)
UKHSA: Advice in British Sign Language on how to keep you and your family safe while cleaning up your home affected by flooding.
Flooding and health: Advice for frontline responders
UKHSA: A guide for the assessment and management of public health impacts for frontline responders.
Prepare for flooding
GOV: Plan how you’ll respond to a flood using templates to make a personal, community or group flood plan.
Flooding
PREPARE: Flooding can have a devastating and long-term impact on people’s lives. Preparing before a flood, and knowing what to do when it happens, can reduce these significant impacts.
Knowledge Hub resources
The Flood Hub: A wide range of flood-related resources. The toolkits are handy for an overview of different flood topics.
Floods in the UK: Advice on staying safe and protecting your home
BRC: Advice for before, during and after a flood.
National Flood Forum
National Flood Forum is a charity that helps, supports and represents people at risk of flooding. Here you can access advice and resources.
Major incident exercise: Flooding
EP: This exercise, created by the EP Mental Health Network, focusses on what organisations can offer in terms of mental health and psychosocial support when responding to a flooding scenario.