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ITV News correspondent Rebecca Barry reports on how the UK advanced amid record temperatures
The United Kingdom has reached its highest recorded temperature, with 40.3 ºC recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, according to provisional Met Office data.
Coningsby reached 40.3ºC at approximately 4pm on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 38.7ºC seen at the Cambridge Botanic Garden in 2019.
Heathrow and St James Park in London lagged far behind with temperatures of 40.2ºC.
Records come when much of England remains under its first red warning of extreme heat.
Britain’s “exceptional” heat wave has already broken several weather records, with all nations except Northern Ireland reporting their hottest days and Monday night with the highest daily minimum temperature in history.
Mercury did not fall below 25 ° C in some places, surpassing the previous highest daily minimum record of 23.9 ° C recorded in Brighton on August 3, 1990.
And Tuesday night through Wednesday you could also see that temperatures will stay above 20 ° C, known as “tropical night,” and while Wednesday will be significantly cooler, it will still be around 28-30 °. C in some areas, hot for the time of year.
Rising temperatures have also forced the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) to issue a level 4 heat health alert, described as an “emergency” and urged the public to take additional precautions to maintain -be hydrated and out of the sun during the tip. hours.
The public has also been asked not to use disposable barbecues in nature sites, as wildfires occurred in various places in England and firefighters reported a large number of calls.
Firefighters have been battling a forest fire in Dartford, Kent. Credit: PA
Homes appear to have caught fire near a large grass fire in Dartford, Kent, there was also a “horrible” fire in a Norfolk nature reserve and dramatic images captured flames ravaging houses on the outskirts of Dartford, Kent. London.
In response to a large increase in fires in the capital, London Fire Brigade declared a major incident. Mayor Sadiq Khan described the situation as “critical” with firefighters under “immense pressure”.
Much of Europe is also cooking with record-breaking heat, which is fueling forest fires in several countries.
As Europe warms to scorching temperatures, correspondent Ben Chapman reports from Gironde, southwestern France, where firefighters are battling wildfires.
Emergency services and the government have reiterated urgent warnings about the dangers of trying to stay fresh on waterways and reservoirs after several tragedies across the country on the two days of the heat wave.
On Tuesday, Wiltshire police said the death of a 20-year-old man was confirmed shortly after he was pulled from the water at Cotswold water park on Monday evening.
In Clacton, Essex, a person is missing after a dramatic rescue in which dock staff hung on the ropes as they tried to keep troubled swimmers afloat. Five people were pulled out of the water, while a rescue helicopter searches for a man who is still missing.
Two boys, aged 12 and 14, are in hospital after being rescued from the sea in Blackpool by two “brave” teenagers after they ran into trouble near Central Pier on Monday evening.
Many went to the beaches to stay cool. Credit: PA
Monday’s travel chaos due to extreme heat continued through Tuesday, with passengers being urged to travel only if “absolutely necessary” amid a wave of cancellations and delays.
Dozens of railway operators have reduced services and imposed speed restrictions to prevent damage to the tracks and prevent the rails from sinking with the suffocating heat.
According to Network Rail, the hottest railway line reached 62ºC on Monday.
He tweeted: “Our hottest train recorded yesterday was 62ºC, in Suffolk! The temperature of the rail can be about 20 ºC higher than that of the air, which causes it to expand, bend and break. “.
It was seen that the tracks were coupled with the heat, while the images showed the A14 in Cambridgeshire folding under pressure and a Greater Manchester road melted into a sticky black mass.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted that the UK transport network could not cope with this extreme heat, saying the Victorian-era infrastructure “was not built to withstand this type of temperature”.
He said it would take decades to replace existing railways and even asphalt on roads to make it more resistant to these temperatures.
A closer look at global heat anomalies in 1976 and 2022. Credit: NASA / GMB
Scientists say climate change is making heat waves more extreme, frequent and likely, and experts warn that the UK needs to adapt homes, hospitals, schools and transport networks to a future of more scorching heat.
Scientists say the likelihood of extreme heat waves like the one the UK is currently experiencing will increase over time due to rising global temperatures.
The Central London Supreme Court was closed to visitors on Tuesday due to temperatures and a failure in air conditioning, while many schools remained closed for a second day in the face of extreme temperatures.
The British are asked to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 4pm, and to wear sunscreen, a hat, to stay in the shade and to stay hydrated with water. .
Claudia Di Napoli, a heat wave researcher at the University of Reading, said heat poses multiple dangers, such as dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
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“They should not be underestimated, as their consequences can be fatal,” he warned.
He said babies, the elderly, the homeless, outdoor workers and those with pre-existing medical conditions are more vulnerable, but early heat warning systems could help prevent deaths.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for heavy showers and storms over much of the south-east and east of England that could cause disruptions during Wednesday afternoon as temperatures drop to their current highs.