The Welsh Government has activated its response coordination arrangements to monitor and manage the impacts of severe heat across the areas it is responsible for, working with Local Resilience Forum partners and with the UK Government1. The move was set out in a written statement by Nerys Evans MS, Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health, published on 24 June 2026, the same day a rare Red warning for extreme heat was issued for parts of Wales on Wednesday and Thursday1.
The statement sets out who is most at risk. Heat related illness can affect anyone, regardless of age or health, but the risks are greatest for older people, babies and very young children, who can deteriorate quickly in high temperatures1. The Deputy Minister said people must all follow public health advice, stay hydrated, avoid being out during the hottest part of the day if at all possible, and ensure that vulnerable people are looked after as a priority1. She added that taking a few minutes to check on family, friends and neighbours could be potentially lifesaving1.
The statement also covers water safety during the hot weather. It says it may be tempting to cool off in lakes or rivers, but cold-water shock is a real danger when jumping in, and that people should never swim in a reservoir1. It repeats the lifesaving advice for anyone in trouble in the water: #FloatToLive1.
"We have activated the Welsh Government’s response coordination arrangements to monitor and manage the impacts of the severe heat across the areas we are responsible for working closely with Local Resilience Forum partners and with the UK Government."
The statement says the Welsh Government will keep people updated with the latest information on an ongoing basis1. The warning covers parts of Wales only; the statement does not list which areas are affected, and this has not been reported in the pages reviewed1.
Why it matters for households
The activation means the Welsh Government is coordinating its own response across the areas it is responsible for and working alongside Local Resilience Forum partners and the UK Government for the duration of the severe heat1. Local Resilience Forums are the regional partnerships through which councils, emergency services, health bodies and utilities plan and respond together; our guide on Local Resilience Forums explains what they do and how to find yours.
The public health advice in the statement is directed at everyone in Wales, with older people, babies and very young children named as facing the greatest risk1. The statement asks people to follow public health advice, stay hydrated, avoid being out during the hottest part of the day if at all possible, and prioritise looking after vulnerable people, and notes that checking on family, friends and neighbours could be potentially lifesaving1. On water, it warns of cold-water shock in lakes and rivers and says people should never swim in a reservoir1. The Adverse Weather and Health Plan sets out how health and care services respond during heat episodes; our heatwaves and drought hub covers the wider picture.
What happens next
The statement says the Welsh Government will keep people updated with the latest information on an ongoing basis1. No further dates or steps are given in the pages reviewed. The warning applies to Wednesday and Thursday1. The Business Wales helpline, 03000 6 03000, is open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday1.
Sources (1)
- Written Statement: Red Extreme Heat Warning for Wales | Business Wales, businesswales.gov.wales
Adverse Weather and Health Plan
