Warm weather in the UK: how to stay cool in a heat wave
The hottest day in the UK is expected to exceed twice in the next two days, as temperatures could even rise to 43 degrees Celsius, prompting the declaration of the first national heat emergency. of the United Kingdom.
The Met Office executive director confirmed that today “we will be able to see the hottest day in UK history”. Wales recorded its highest temperature of 37.1 ºC around 16:00.
Tuesday is expected to be even warmer, with some forecasts estimating highs of 43 ° C, well above the previous record of 38.7 ° C, set in 2019.
People are advised not to travel by public transport unless it is “absolutely necessary,” as services will be reduced due to the heat wave, while several schools have told The Independent that about a third of their students, or in some cases more than half, are absent. today.
The heat was so intense today that the asphalt began to melt. Both Luton Airport and RAF Brize Norton, Britain’s largest air base, were forced to suspend flights due to runway defects caused by the heat.
Key points
Show the latest update 1658169168
The temperature exceeds 30ºC in Scotland
Temperatures have soared above 30 ºC in Scotland as the country drowns in a heat wave.
The Met Office has issued an amber “extreme heat” weather warning in eastern, southern and central Scotland which is in effect until midnight on Tuesday.
On Monday afternoon, mercury rose 30.8 degrees Celsius in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh, and reached 29.9 degrees Celsius in Aviemore, the meteorological office said.
Scotland’s August 9, 2003 record of 32.9 ºC at Greyrcrook on the Scottish borders has not yet been broken, but forecasters said this could happen on Tuesday.
Liam James18 July 2022 19:32
1658168028
Birmingham Park burns with extreme heat
A large fire broke out in a park on the outskirts of Birmingham this afternoon.
About 4,305 square feet of land was on fire and more than 60 firefighters were sent to deal with the fire.
A spokesman for the Hereford and Worcester Fire Department said: “HWFRS and West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service teams are currently battling an open fire in the Rose Hill area of Rednal in Lickey Hills. .
“People are being asked to stay away from the area; residents are being asked to keep their doors and windows closed.”
Firefighter at the scene in Lickey Hills Country Park, Birmingham
(Anita Marie / SWNS)
Firefighter at the scene in Lickey Hills Country Park, Birmingham
(Anita Maric / SWNS)
Locals watch as Lickey Hills burns
(Anita Maric / SWNS)
Liam James18 July 2022 19:13
1658166948
The centennial weather station records the highest temperature ever
A century-old Oxford weather station has recorded its highest temperature.
The Radcliffe Observatory has recorded 36.5 ºC today, breaking temperature records across the UK.
Meteorological records began at the observatory in 1772, there is a daily record of uninterrupted air temperature since November 1813, with daily records of rainfall since January 1827 and sunshine records since February of 1880.
The University of Oxford site is the longest continuous climate record in the UK and one of the longest in the world.
The previous highest daily temperature was recorded in 2019.
Matt Clements, a doctoral student in geography, reviews Radcliffe Met Station
(Tom Wren / SWNS)
Radcliffe Met Station is located on the Oxford University campus
(Tom Wren SWNS)
Liam James July 18, 2022 6:55 PM
1658165748
Fear of the “leaf camaraderie” for Kew Gardens plants
Rainforest plants housed at Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens could burn with extreme heat this week, one of its executives said.
Richard Barley, director of gardens, said the Palm House remained cooler than the outside temperature, but “burning of the leaves” was still a risk.
“A building like Palm House has no structural shading or anything like that, so it can burn,” he said.
“If there are no clouds and if the air temperature is high and there is sun in mid-summer, we can suffer from leaf burns, especially from plants that have foliage near the glass.
“In general, plants will withstand reasonably high temperatures, although if they became extreme, we would be in unfamiliar territory.”
Visitors seemed discouraged by the temperatures as they rose to 30 degrees, and Mr. Barley suggested that most had “stayed noticeably” in the “comparative cool” of their homes.
However, the Palm House was cooler than the outside conditions thanks to its humidity, which stays around 75 percent.
Kew graduate student Elizabeth Mansfield watered Palm House plants Monday
(PA)
Horticulturist Carlos Magdalena removes a Victoria Cruz water lily from Palm House pond to create space for a new species of giant water lily
(PA)
Magdalena examines the leaves of the new giant water lily species, Bolivian Victoria, at Palm House
(PA)
Liam James July 18, 2022 6:35 PM
1658164788
More forest fires in 48 hours than in the whole of last July
In the last 48 hours, England and Wales have recorded at least two dozen forest fires, double the number recorded throughout July last year (writes Saphora Smith).
Paul Hedley, the head of the forest fire at the National Fire Chiefs Council, told The Independent that by 4pm on Monday, fire and rescue services in England and Wales had recorded at least 24 fires since Sunday morning at 7 p.m.
Compared to July last year, 11 forest fires were recorded in the two countries, he added.
“Everything is dry all over the country,” he said. “It’s definitely a lot more than we hope to get every day.”
Hedley said the increase in fires was related to the extreme heat surrounding the country.
More forest fires in 48 hours than in the whole of last July
Exclusive: Paul Hedley, the wildfire leader of the National Fire Chiefs Council, said conditions for wildfires were set in England and Wales.
Liam James July 18, 2022 6:19 PM
1658163828
Another grass fire broke out in London
Eight firefighters and about 60 firefighters have been sent to deal with a grass fire in London.
About two acres of bushes were on fire in Woolwich Common, the London Fire Brigade said.
Just an hour earlier, a lawn area the size of three football pitches caught fire in nearby Bexleyheath.
Liam James July 18, 2022 6:03 PM
1658163768
Look: A forest fire breaks out in Birmingham country park after the UK heat wave
A fire broke out in a popular beauty spot near Birmingham, just meters from a historic golf club, when heat wave temperatures exceeded 40ºC.
More than 60 firefighters are battling the blazes that have erupted at Rednal’s Lickey Hills Country Park at 1:15 p.m. today.
Residents living nearby have been advised to close all doors and windows.
A forest fire breaks out in Birmingham rural park after the UK heat wave
Liam James18 July 2022 18:02
1658162568
Suspended flights to Luton because high temperatures cause a runway defect
Flights have been suspended at Luton Airport due to a runway defect caused by high temperatures on Monday (writes Lucy Thackray).
A statement posted on the airport’s Twitter account shortly after 4.20pm says: “After today’s high temperatures, a surface defect has been identified on the runway.
“Engineers were immediately called to the site and repair work is underway to resume operations as soon as possible.
“We would like to apologize for the inconvenience.”
So far at least 14 incoming passenger flights have been diverted, mainly to nearby Stansted. They include Ryanair flights from Athens, Zakynthos and Las Palmas, easyJet from Catania and Tui from Skiathos.
Suspended flights to Luton because high temperatures cause a runway defect
“Repairs are currently being carried out to resume operations as soon as possible,” says management
Liam James18 July 2022 17:42
1658161595
The grass fire broke out in London
Firefighters are facing a fire in a camp in a London suburb.
Four firefighters and about 25 firefighters were dispatched to deal with the blaze on Halcot Avenue in Bexleyheath, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.
An area the size of three football fields was on fire, LFB added.
The fire service said it had witnessed more than 800 grass fires in the past six weeks and reminded people that it is illegal to light barbecues in London’s parks.
Liam James July 18, 2022 5:26 PM
1658160954
Wales today records for the second time the highest temperature in history
The Wales temperature record has been broken again, hours after the last record.
The Met Office reported that the temperature reached 37.1 ºC in Hawarden, Flintshire shortly before 4pm.
Just two hours earlier, 35.3ºC were recorded about 80 miles southwest in Gogerddan, near Aberystwyth.
This previous temperature was the highest since August 1990, when 35.2ºC was recorded in Hawarden.
Liam James July 18, 2022 5:15 p.m.