Stock up on sun cream, fans and ice lollies: Britain is bracing itself for the first heatwave of the year. And that’s before the official start of summer.
Much of the country is set to get at least three consecutive days of high temperatures – the definition of a heatwave – this bank holiday. Parts of the south are forecast to see readings as high as 30°C by Monday.
For many, the warm weather will be perfect for the long weekend and a welcome change from the long run of dull and cold weather so far in May. But it also comes with health risks – that tend to be greater when heatwaves arrive early in the year, like this one.
Here’s how hot weather affects our bodies over the short and longer term – and what to do.
Minutes: The risks and benefits of sunshine
