Severe weather updates

Amber heat-health alert for South East

An amber heat health alert is in effect from 11 August 2026 at 9am to 14 August 2026 at 9pm.

What to expect during a heatwave:

population-wide adverse health effects experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life
substantial changes in working practices and daily routines will be required
high risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, with the loss of power and other essential services, such as water, electricity, gas or mobile phone services
significantly more people visiting coastal areas, lakes and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents
delays on roads and road closures, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, with significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays.

General information

Health advice during hot weather:

Spaces to stay cool in Oxford

Information on spaces to stay cool across the city can be found on our dedicated webpage.

Staying cool at home

When the hot weather arrives there are several quick and easy steps that we can all take to reduce heat in the home:

If possible, shade or cover windows
Open windows (when it is safe to do so) when the air feels cooler outside, for example at night, and try to get air flowing through the home
Use electric fans if the air temperature is below 35°C, but do not aim the fan directly at your body as this can lead to dehydration
Check that your heating is turned off
To reduce heat generated in the home, turn off lights and electrical equipment that are not in use and consider cooking at cooler times of the day
Move to a cooler part of the house, especially for sleeping if possible
It may be cooler outside in the shade or in a public building (such as places of worship, local libraries, or supermarkets) so consider a visit as a way of cooling down if you are able to safely travel there without putting yourself at more risk from the heat

Bin collection changes from Wednesday 12 August until Friday 14 August

From Wednesday (12/08) until Friday (14/08), ODS will be making temporary changes to its waste collection service to help protect the health and wellbeing of crews, while maintaining essential services.

The revised arrangements are:

Collection crews will begin work earlier than usual, with bin collections commencing from 4.45am, which is one hour and 15 minutes earlier than normal. Residents are asked to place their bins out the evening before their collection is due

Parks and waterways

Parks

Rules apply around using BBQs in Port Meadow, Burgess Field, Wolvercote Common, Rivermead Nature Reserve, Angel and Greyhound Meadow, and South Park.

All these open spaces have been damaged by fires in the past. The fires have burnt the grass and scorched the ground, which can take years to recover.

Waterways

Rivers and open waterways can be dangerous, with hidden currents, underwater hazards and rapidly changing conditions. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has water safety advice related to avoiding getting into difficulty in the county’s waterways during the hot weather.

Cold water shock

Cold water shock is a sudden and involuntary response that occurs when the body is unexpectedly immersed in water below 15°C. Even on a hot day, the sea, rivers, and lakes in the UK can remain cold enough to trigger this reaction. It’s a physiological response that can affect anyone, regardless of age, fitness, or swimming ability.

If you unexpectedly find yourself in cold water, the most important thing is not to panic. Fight the instinct to swim hard or thrash about. The Met Office, RNLI, and RLSS UK, recommend the following advice:

Lean back and try to float, keeping your head above water
Extend your arms and legs to help you stay afloat
Control your breathing, this is key to surviving the initial shock
Once you’ve calmed your breathing, call for help or look for something to hold onto
If possible, swim to safety only once you’ve recovered from the initial effects

This simple technique, known as “Float to Live”, can save your life.

Safer ways to enjoy the sunshine include:

Swimming pools across Oxford (including free swimming sessions for under-17s at Barton, Ferry and Leys Leisure Centres at selected times).

Free swimming sessions are available at our Council-owned leisure centres throughout the week for children and young people under 17 who live in Oxford.

Staying hydrated in hot weather

As part of its campaign to reduce the use of single-use plastic water bottles, Refill Return has set up a network of water bottle refill stations throughout the city – including all our leisure centres and Oxford Town Hall. Look out for the sticker in shop and business windows or check the Refill Return website or app.

Drinking water fountains are also available in Florence Park, Bury Knowle Park and Cutteslowe Park.

Unplanned school closures

Oxfordshire County Council has a list of schools that have reported closures due to the severe weather. If your school is not listed, it is recommended that you contact your school. Schools usually show closures on their website.

Road and driving conditions

If any roads are affected during this period of extreme heat they will be listed on our road closures in severe weather webpage. National Highways are offering travel advice in hot weather.

Thames Water incidents

Thames Water regularly updates its list of water related incidents in the region.

Power outages

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks list power outages at any one moment. You can zoom in and out of the map on this page or search by postcode.