'Heat emergency' shuts more than 500 schools in Wales in red weather warning

<p>"And we are really learning in this heat event that we are absolutely not prepared. We're seeing school closures. If you are trying to manage ill people on a ward in our hospitals that doesn't have air conditioning, you're going to find this very uncomfortable.</p>

<p>"So, we really have a long way to go. Our infrastructure is absolutely not prepared for this."</p>

<h2>School closures and cancelled trains</h2>

<p>School closures are confirmed in Cardiff, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and Vale of the Glamorgan.</p>

<p>Speaking on <a href="/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_wales_fm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Radio Wales Breakfast</a>, chief medical officer for Wales Isabel Oliver said in these periods of heatwave, there can be "significant pressure on the NHS".</p>

<p>"But the health effects of heat are largely predictable and preventable so it is really important that we are all aware of what we need to do to keep safe and in good health," she said.</p>

<p>The Cure will play Cardiff's Blackweir Fields on Wednesday, and McFly will play Cardiff Castle on Thursday.</p>

<p>Oliver asked people to look out for each other, and avoid alcohol.</p>

<p>"If people are feeling the effects of heat exhaustion which is tiredness, dizziness, headaches, feeling sick it is really important that they move to a cool place, remove unnecessary clothing such as jackets or socks," she said.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Transport for Wales (TfW) has cancelled services across Wales due to extreme heat and a shortage of trains.</p>

<p>These include services from Manchester to Cardiff, Ebbw Vale to Cardiff, Bridgend to Maesteg, Chester to Wrexham, Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay.</p>

<p>TfW apologised for the disruption and advised passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary. It added that passengers who no longer wished to travel on Wednesday or Thursday could use their tickets on Friday.</p>

<p>Beverley Holt, deputy manager of Cartref Dyfi care home in Machynlleth, said they had changed the menu and activities in preparation for the heat.</p>

<p>"It's a struggle, we're just trying to keep everyone cool, hydrated and keeping the curtains closed," she said.</p>

<p>Lois Burke, 90, said it was more like Caribbean weather, but added: "I wouldn't want it to get any hotter and at my age I'm not particularly active, so it's just lying around a bit."</p>

<p>Sally, 86, was still managing to exercise, but kept cool by lying down on her bed with the window open and by drinking as much as she can. "It's extreme, climate change is starting to rule our lives I think".</p>

<p>Speaking on <a href="/programmes/m00050lt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BBC Radio Wales Drive</a> on Tuesday, Nerys Evans described the red warning as serious.</p>

<p>"This is a heat emergency that we've got over the next couple of days, and we will see extra demand on our health service," she said.</p>

<p>"That's why it's so important that people follow the basic rules of keeping themselves hydrated, out of the sun and more importantly looking after vulnerable people who can't regulate their own body temperatures like we do."</p>

<p>Claire Beynon, executive director of public health at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said they had made changes including telling staff they can switch to shorts and polo shirts.</p>

<p>"We're trying to move the people who need air conditioning the most into areas that have air conditioning to keep them cool.</p>

<p>"We've also sent a message out around the whole organisation to see if anyone can come in and help with hydration within the wards, giving people extra rounds of water," she said.</p>

<p>Public Health Wales has urged people across Wales to stay safe and check on family and friends.</p>

<p>It also warned people who worked outdoors, lived in top-floor flats, or were exposed to the heat for long periods could also be particularly vulnerable.</p>

<p>The red weather warning for extreme heat begins at 09:00 BST on Wednesday and lasts until 23:59 on Thursday. It covers Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan, as well as parts of England.</p>

<p>A separate amber warning is in place for all of Wednesday and Thursday and covers the whole of Wales.</p>

<p>The <a href="/news/articles/cy9r89zg71zo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hot weather has already caused disruption across parts of Wales</a>, with a historic bridge closed and public services also affected.</p>

<h2>Steffan Messenger, Wales environment correspondent </h2>

<p>Heat-related records have been tumbling for a while now in Wales, sounding an alarm about our changing climate.</p>

<p>This month's scorching weather comes hot on the heels of our warmest May day on record a few weeks ago.</p>

<p>Last summer was our hottest on record - and 10 of the warmest years yet documented in Wales have all happened since the early 2000s.</p>

<p>Climate scientists warn hotter summers are to become "the new normal" in decades to come with heatwaves that are more frequent and intense.</p>

<p>Modelling from the Met Office - released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the famous 1976 heatwave - suggests a similar event in 2056 could see temperatures reaching 41C in Wales.</p>

<h2>Get in touch</h2>

<p>Have you been affected by issues raised in this story?</p>

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