A severe air pollution alert has been announced for London this Tuesday, with temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius.

City Hall indicated that intense sunshine coupled with elevated temperatures could lead to increased ozone levels, and incoming airflow from mainland Europe may further exacerbate the situation.

This forecast, produced by Imperial College London, led the mayor’s office to issue the alert, which will be shown on bus stop countdown displays, London Underground monitors, and communicated to schools and local councils.

Mete Coban, the deputy mayor for environmental and energy matters, emphasized that the city’s “toxic air” is associated with approximately 4,000 early deaths annually in the capital.

“We encourage Londoners to take care of their health during this pollution alert in the heat, avoid idling their vehicles, and refrain from burning wood or garden waste, all of which contribute to elevated pollution levels,” he noted.

Elevated pollution levels can particularly impact the elderly, young children, and individuals with pre-existing heart and lung conditions.

The alert system was implemented by the mayor in 2016 and relies on the government’s Daily Air Quality Index to decide when to issue warnings.

The UK Health Security Agency has also released heat health alerts for the entirety of England, starting Tuesday morning and continuing until Wednesday.

London is amongst the areas predicted to experience the highest temperatures, with forecasts reaching up to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), leading to an amber alert.

An externally published air quality report from last year stated that instances of high pollution have become “rare” in London.

It noted that from 2018 to 2023, there were 19 high pollution alerts and 217 moderate pollution alerts issued, allowing Londoners to be more aware of pollution spikes and take necessary precautions on those days.