What are UKHSA Heat-Health Alerts, and do they apply outside England?

Heat-Health Alerts are issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) together with the Met Office when hot weather is forecast that could affect people's health. They come in four colours (green, yellow, amber and red) and are issued for regions of England.

• Season: the core alerting season runs from 1 June to 30 September each year. If heat occurs outside that period, UKHSA can issue an extraordinary alert.
• Where: the system applies to England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own public health bodies; the Met Office's separate extreme heat warnings cover the whole UK.
• For children: UKHSA's hot-weather guidance for schools and early years settings (updated July 2026) is the official advice on keeping children safe in heat, and is the basis for this FAQ.

Sports governing bodies and competitions may have their own hot-weather rules (for example drinks breaks or postponements), which sit alongside this guidance.