England’s August heatwave was deadlier than record 40°C days in July

Official statistics show that England’s 10-day heatwave in August 2022 led to more excess deaths than the shorter but record-breaking temperature spike in July, highlighting the risks of extended periods of heat

By Madeleine Cuff

Heatwave in London on 10 August 2022

Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu Agency via Getty

Excess deaths of people aged 65 and over were higher during England’s August heatwave than during the record-breaking 40°C (104°F) hot spell in July, official statistics indicate.

New figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) suggest there were an estimated 1458 excess deaths in England in those aged over 65 from 8-17 August, when parts of the country saw daytime temperatures exceed 30°C (86°F) for four days.

By comparison, there were an estimated 1012 excess deaths in the over 65s during the record-breaking 17-20 July heatwave, which saw temperatures briefly spike to 40°C in parts of England.

These numbers are based on statistical modelling from the UKHSA that is designed to show the impact of heatwaves on the most vulnerable age groups. The figures exclude those who died with covid-19. The UKHSA also notes that excess deaths have been high for much of 2022, even during periods of lower temperatures.

Older people are more likely to suffer serious health impacts from hot weather, in part because it becomes harder for the body to regulate its temperature with age.

Overall, the UKHSA said the summer of 2022 was the deadliest for heatwaves since 2004, when the UK government first introduced a specific plan for heatwaves in England. The plan includes measures the National Health Service, local authorities and community groups should take to protect the population from the health impacts of extreme heat.

The agency said England experienced five “heat periods” over the course of the summer, defined as a period when there is a high risk of increased temperatures over multiple days, and/or days when the mean temperature in central England was above 20°C (68°F).

During those five periods, which occurred between June and August, the estimated total excess mortality was 2803 for those aged 65 and over.

Isabel Oliver at UKHSA says the figures should act as a warning for the UK to better prepare for the public health impacts of extreme heat.

“Higher excess deaths occurred during the hottest days this year and a warming climate means we must adapt to living safely with hotter summers in the future,” she said in a statement.

Figures from the UK Office for National Statistics, also released today, suggest that excess deaths across all age groups throughout England and Wales amounted to 3271 during the five heatwaves – more than 6 per cent higher than the five-year average.

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