Kit PetersHEATWAVE: Police urge people to stay indoors as Swansea Bay temperatures creep towards 40C
Police are urging people across Swansea Bay to stay indoors as temperatures climb towards 40C at the peak of a red extreme heat warning.
Swansea and Neath Port Talbot sit squarely inside the Met Office’s red warning — the most severe level, reserved for a likely risk to life across the whole population.
The warning came into force at 9am on Wednesday and runs until late on Thursday night, with the hottest days of the spell still to come.
Within the red zone, the Met Office says temperatures could climb towards 38C to 40C, though the very highest figures are most likely further east, towards England.
For Swansea Bay, that still means widespread heat in the high 30s on Wednesday and Thursday — exceptional for June.
The Met Office’s detailed map shows the red zone covering Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Pontardawe and the Vale of Neath, with the boundary curving to the coast just west of the city.
Further west, Llanelli, Carmarthen, Kidwelly and the Gower fall into the slightly less severe amber warning.
The UK’s June temperature record of 35.6C, set in 1976, is very likely to be broken in the coming days.
Wales has already felt the start of it, provisionally recording its highest June overnight temperature on record this week — with the mercury staying at 20.3C at St Athan, in the Vale of Glamorgan, on Monday night.
Met Office chief forecaster Matthew Lehnert called it “exceptional heat for June” and warned health issues were likely “even beyond those who are more vulnerable to the heat”.
He said high humidity would make the heat feel more potent, while warm nights would make it harder for people to recover.
South Wales Police has urged people to stay indoors and drink plenty of water until temperatures ease.
With many expected to head for the coast instead, the force has also asked beachgoers across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to park sensibly.
It said officers would carry out enforcement action against any vehicles left blocking roads or emergency service access at the beachfronts.
It is not the first such warning of the summer — in May, 94 drivers were ticketed at Caswell Bay in a single bank holiday, with the council saying tow-aways could follow.
For those tempted into the sea to cool off, the RNLI has warned that the water remains cold despite the air temperature.
The charity said entering cold water unexpectedly can cause cold water shock, and urged anyone who gets into difficulty to “float to live” — tilting the head back, relaxing and controlling their breathing — while choosing a lifeguarded beach where possible.
The Met Office has also warned of a chance of thundery outbreaks and gusty winds of around 50mph in parts of southern and western England on Thursday evening, where a yellow thunderstorm warning is in place.
Amber heat warnings have been issued for Friday and Saturday too, gradually shifting eastwards as the far west of the warning area begins to cool, before a return to more typical temperatures next week.
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Why walks should wait until the heat eases.
