As a third heatwave is predicted to hit the UK, residents living in the centre of London are expected to be affected more than other boroughs.
The Met Office predicts temperatures will peak at 33C in England over the weekend, with London hitting 32C.
The previous heatwaves have been focused in the south and east of England, but this latest one is expected to hit the entire UK, in a year already hotter than average.
This risk for London boroughs was identified in a 2024 Greater London Authority survey on heat risk, which identified areas which would suffer the most in extreme weather like heatwaves.
Heat has become a rising issue for London as temperatures soar from global climate change and the urban heat island effect.
This effect is when urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural counterparts due to denser populations and man-made materials retaining heat.
The survey identified residents in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Islington and Camden as being at the highest risk of heat in their homes.
This is because these central boroughs have a higher proportion of flats than others, which are more vulnerable to overheating than houses.
Boroughs on the outskirts of London like Bromley, Havering and Hillingdon appear to have the lowest residential heat risk, as the residential areas consist mostly of houses.
Despite some boroughs being more at risk than others, each borough has hotspots of heat risk in residential properties, as a variety of factors like age, condition, property type and population density can increase the heat risk.
There are plenty of solutions, however, to help Londoners to stay cool in the heatwave.
Dr Andrew Wright said: “Stay hydrated and drink water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty.
“Stay indoors as much as possible during peak heat times, between 10am and 4pm.
“You can also keep curtains closed during the day to block out heat, take cool showers to lower your body temperature and use fans and cool cloths on your neck and wrists.”
Feature image: Garry Knight/Creative Commons licence
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