Sadiq Khan has issued a high air pollution alert for Monday as London braces for a week of sweltering temperatures reaching 39C. The Mayor of London urged residents to reduce car journeys, avoid engine idling, and look after vulnerable people to mitigate poor air quality.
Ozone levels expected to rise
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Khan wrote: 'Hot, sunny weather and pollution from continental Europe are expected to raise ozone levels. Please help protect yourself and others, especially vulnerable people, by reducing car journeys and avoiding engine idling.'
The capital, along with much of southern and central England, has been placed on an amber alert for extreme heat from Monday to Thursday. The Met Office warned of 'adverse health effects' such as sunburn and heat exhaustion that could affect the wider population, and noted that heat-sensitive equipment and systems might fail, potentially leading to power cuts and loss of services.
Potential record-breaking temperatures
Temperatures in London are forecast to reach 38C by Tuesday and remain at that level until Thursday. If confirmed, this would surpass Britain's hottest June on record, beating the previous high of 35.6C recorded in 1976 in Southampton and in 1957 in Camden Square, London.
The summer of 1976 saw one of the most intense heatwaves in British history, with 15 consecutive days above 32C and 36 days without rainfall across England and Wales. The subsequent water shortage led to the Drought Act, introducing water rationing and standpipes. Some £500 million of crops were destroyed that year.
Climate change driving extreme weather
This year has already seen the hottest spring on record, with temperatures exceeding 30C in May. Last year's summer was the hottest since records began, with a mean temperature of 16.1C from June to August.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge warned that spells of extreme weather are becoming 'more frequent' due to climate change. 'That's unfortunately just the way things are going at the moment and it doesn't seem to be slowing down,' he said.
