Experts are warning people not to use a fan in 35C heatwave conditions – which could hit the UK this coming Monday, according to the latst Met Office forecasts.
The Met Office has warned that heatwave conditions of up to 36C could hit parts of the UK on Monday, particularly in London and the South, but almost all of the UK is expected to be baking hot. Temperatures will still be up at 31C on Tuesday before finally falling on Wednesday.
It’s led to heat health alerts being issued by the UK Health Security Agency, including two more serious amber heat health alerts, urging people to take care in the extreme heat.
So far fortunately the temperature has still been cool enough for fans to work. But when the temperature does get higher than 35C, as it will on Monday, electric fans will no longer be a good option – they will become ineffective and may actually do more harm than good, say experts.
It might sound counterproductive, but fans aren’t the answer when the heat gets really bad, for a very surprising reason.
Using a fan during a heatwave can actually make your room even hotter. According to the Government’s own heatwave plan, electric fans only work in temperatures under 35C.
The UKHSA advice shared by the government via gov.uk says: “Homes can overheat and become uncomfortable during warmer weather, particularly when you are trying to sleep.
“Use electric fans if the air temperature is below 35C, but do not aim the fan directly at your body as this can lead to dehydration.”
But at any temperature, fans don’t actually cool down the room, they simply move the air around. So, although you might feel a bit better with one in your face, the room is just as hot as it was before, and it could actually lull you into a false sense of security if you use a fan instead of staying hydrated or cooling the room properly.
The best thing to do is try to shade windows, increase airflow, but close curtains and keep cool with regular water or even cold showers, and stay out of direct sunlight.
It’s going to be advice we keep returning to, as temperatures are only expected to keep getting hotter in future.
The government’s own advice adds: “Climate change is already causing warmer temperatures in the UK. All of the warmest years on record in the UK have occurred since 2002, and in July 2022 temperatures exceeded 40C for the first time on record.
“It is estimated that 2,803 people aged 65 years and over died due to the heat in England in 2022, and it is predicted that the number of heat-related deaths per year may triple by 2050.
“Hot weather can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung problems and other diseases. Older people, babies and young children are more likely to be unwell from hot weather because their bodies are less able to regulate temperature.
“People with underlying medical conditions can also be vulnerable to the effects of hot weather.
“Many of the harms linked to heat exposure are preventable if a few simple actions are taken. During the summer, UKHSA will work with the Met Office to issue alerts alongside the weather forecast if the weather is so hot that it has the potential to affect people’s health, and will help you to take steps to protect yourself and others.”