Brits have been urged to do their shopping before 1pm (Image: Getty)
Brits have been warned to ensure they stock up their fridges and freezers this morning ahead of scorching temperatures.
The UK is facing its third heatwave of the summer with temperatures expected to continue to climb this afternoon, with Oxfordshire forecast to reach 34C today and London expected to climb to 31C.
Amber heat health alerts have been issued for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West.
Ahead of the higher temperatures this afternoon Brits across the country are being urged to stock up on essential items as many supermarket fridges and freezers are unable to cope in the heat.
As supermarkets are likely to have outdate fridge systems, it is likely they are not designed to withstand temperatures above 32C.
During the previous heatwave, refrigeration disruption left many shelves bare on Wednesday, June 24.
Fridges and freezers in stores such as Tesco and M&S were marked with printed notices as customers encountered empty aisles.
Tesco branches in Haslingden, Crewe and Altrincham were among many reported to have been left depleted.
Les Robers from Bionic’s energy team explains: “Many supermarkets in the UK are likely to be operating with outdated fridge and freezer systems.”
The last heatwave left several shelves across UK supermarkets empty (Image: Manchester Evening News)
“Older systems are commonly designed to withstand temperatures up to 32C, making them ill-equipped to deal with the increasing number of heatwaves we’re experiencing in Britain.
“Once temperatures exceed the threshold they are designed for, the compressor has to work much harder to keep things cold.
“Over time, this extra strain can cause the system to overheat, wear out more quickly, and eventually break down. Therefore, these issues are likely to recur until systems are updated.”
The Met Office forecast several areas to climb to above 32C today.
In Oxfordshire, temperatures will reach 32C at 1pm, with many counties in the south east also expected to reach these highs just after midday.
Therefore, Brits are urged to make any essential purchases for the evening or weekend this morning in order to avoid disappointment.
Les Roberts added: “That’s why we’re advising Brits to stock up on their refrigerated and frozen essentials ahead of heatwaves.
“As there’s a risk that you may find frozen and refrigerated aisles empty due to broken fridges, we recommend that you top up on anything you may need ahead of time, whether it’s your weekly food shop staples, barbeque supplies or ice creams.
“By planning ahead, you won’t have to miss out if your local supermarkets are faced with this common issue.”
