Heat warnings and extreme temperatures span health, farming and sport across West Country

A yellow heat health warning is active across the area until 09:00 on Tuesday, the UK Health Security Agency said [1][4]. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it had escalated to a red heat health alert and warned of a period of sustained extreme heat, with temperatures expected to peak midweek and remain high beyond that, increasing pressure on health services [2]. Swindon and Wiltshire could be heading for a sixth spell of extreme heat, with another heatwave potentially on the way, the Wiltshire Times reported [6].

The heat is compounding other pressures. BBC News Somerset reported that bluetongue virus is giving farmers an additional challenge while they are already dealing with extreme heat [3][7]. Meanwhile, six members of the Tweedie family from Keynsham took part in the Gower Peninsular Ultra 50km Challenge on Sunday 19 July when temperatures were in the "very high 20C range," Keynsham Voice reported [5].