Heatwave to Hit the UK in April and Climate Change is to Blame: Met Office Forecast

Heatwave is expected to hit the UK in April 2022, and climate change is to blame, according to a UK weather forecast. The UK may experience a significantly higher temperature than the average monthly temperature, prompting the risk of hazardous heat not only to people but also to the environment.

The heatwave is not only confined within the UK but several weather forecasts and previous research have shown that climate change and global warming have led to an increased occurrence and duration of heatwaves globally, notably in the US and Europe.

April Heatwave Forecast

(Photo : Leon Neal via Getty Images)

Temperatures reaching up to 28 degrees Celsius are possible as soon as April steps in the UK, according to the Meteorological Office (Met Office), as cited by Essex Live News. If the heatwave pushes through in April, it will be reportedly the hottest temperature recorded in a year since the Industrial Revolution.

Based on the forecast, inhabitants of the UK, including Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England, will experience scorching hot weather in April. The Met Office reportedly claimed that climate change and global warming is the reason behind the heatwave in the upcoming month, as the Express news.

UK meteorologists and weather experts from the Met Office reportedly issued a weather forecast, indicating 2022 will be the hottest year based on average global temperatures since 1850. This is due to the fact that temperatures worldwide have increased over recent years.

Also read: New Study Reveals That Marine Heatwave Contributes to Major Economic Losses

Climate Change and Heatwave

According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), there has been a gradual yet evident shift from daily average temperatures to hotter temperatures. In the United States alone, hot temperatures have doubled than usual across the continental US over the past decade since the 1950s.

The C2ES organization has attributed this increase in temperature to the increasing frequency of heatwaves due to climate change. A heatwave is marked by hot weather consisting of hot air ranging from severe to extreme, and it can become dangerous if combed with high humidity, says C2ES.

Furthermore, the organization implied heatwaves can pose environmental risks and worsen other natural disasters. For instance, the extreme heat from this natural phenomenon can intensify and prolong an existing drought or wildfire in a particular area.

2020 UK Heatwave

In 2020, heatwave across the UK occurred in varying degrees, and it also caused a large number of fatalities. According to the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), approximately 246 people have died from heat in the UK between July 30 and August 1 that year.

The LSE acquired its data from the Met Office for Central England, indicating that temperatures during that period reach up to 33.2 degrees Celsius. In addition, the LSE alleged many of the deaths could have been prevented if the UK government listened to multiple warnings from experts.

Based on the 2020 UK heatwave, it is possible that similar or record-breaking temperatures may occur in the UK in April, prompting the risks of life-threatening heat and environmental risks, including wildfires and drought.