The UK has woken up groggy and begging for the hot spell to end after another tropical night as the fourth day of the extreme heatwave gets underway. The record-breaking hot spell continues to linger over the UK and western Europe, sparking the Met Office to extend the extreme heat warning until at least midnight today as mercury could hit 39°C in some places.
So far, the UK’s new record temperature was clocked in Merryfield yesterday – 36.7°C – but that could be topped today. Most of the UK will endure gruelling heat or thunderstorms today as most of the British Isles are under a weather warning.
Red Warning Remains in Place
A rare danger to life red heat warning remains in place for London, the South East and South West of England until 9pm, compounded by humidity and worsening the effects even on healthy people. Travel across the UK is likely to be a sticky affair today as the infrastructure struggles to cope, and most rail operators are advising people to only travel if absolutely necessary today due to the heat and timetable changes.
The emergency services are on high alert after a wildfire ripped through a Derbyshire moorland. The blaze burned through 500 sqm of Tintwistle Moor, with heavy smoke closing roads in the area.
New UK Heat Record Broken
Another UK town has had the unenviable pleasure of becoming the hottest place in the country. Merryfield in Somerset clocked a whopping 36.7°C yesterday, making it hotter than Manila in the Philippines or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Wales’s hottest day on record saw the temperature rise to 35.9°C in Bute Park, Cardiff. Meanwhile, the highest overnight temperature was in Kenley, Surrey, where people had no respite even after sunset as the temperature refused to drop below 24.2°C.
London Pavements Hit 57°C
London has turned into the world’s biggest oven, with temperatures higher than in the Philippines, Jordan or Ethiopia. In London, the buildings, rail platforms and playgrounds reached up to 60°C yesterday when teams from Greenpeace tested the temperatures across iconic spots baking in the sun and humidity. Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus reached 56°C, Regent Street 57°C, while the air temperature measured around 35°C between the buildings. An Overground platform at Highbury and Islington is said to have reached 62°C, the plaza outside King’s Cross station rocked up to 62°C, and a roadworks site in Holborn measured a whopping 65°C, according to Greenpeace.
Greenpeace’s head of climate Mel Evans said: ‘This isn’t just weather – it’s a public health emergency driven by fossil fuel giants and their planet-heating emissions. These abnormal temperatures are stretching homes, schools, transport and our own health to breaking point, and yet the government has been caught off guard. Ministers need to stop winging it and deliver a proper extreme heat plan, with cooler homes and schools, safe limits for workers, more shade and green space, and clear protection for the most vulnerable.’ Greenpeace urged political leaders to make fossil fuel companies ‘pay their fair share to fix the problem they’ve caused.’
Life-Threatening Emergencies Reach Record High
The London Ambulance Service said it recorded the highest number of life-threatening emergencies in its history on Wednesday. This, it said, was ‘driven by the extreme heat’. Ambulance crews responded to a staggering 642 category one calls that day, representing the most serious, life-threatening injuries and illnesses such as cardiac arrests and patients who are not breathing. Chief executive Jason Killens said: ‘We have seen the highest number of life-threatening emergencies in our history, driven by the extreme heat across London. Our crews are working very hard in challenging conditions to care for patients, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our people for their incredible hard work. Please help them to help you by taking care of yourself and others – stay out of the sun and keep hydrated.’ Across Europe, hundreds of people have died in the heat, including more than 200 in Spain and at least three young children in France.
Today is the Hottest UK June Day Ever
Today is the hottest UK June day since records began after 36.4°C was recorded in Yeovilton, Somerset. This beats yesterday’s high of 36.1°C, recorded in Gosport, Hampshire, and the previous record set in 1976. Temperatures are expected to remain high after the Met Office’s red weather warning was extended for London and the southeast until Friday at 9pm, with further warnings in place into the weekend.
Transport Chaos and Wildfires
The Elizabeth line, a lifeline route thanks to its air conditioning, has been hit by the heatwave. Extreme weather damaged the infrastructure between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Terminals, TfL says. This is causing severe delays between the airport and Hayes & Harlington stop. Passengers are advised to hop on the Piccadilly line instead to travel between Heathrow and central London. Service is also reduced between Heathrow and Paddington, and Paddington and Reading as a heat mitigation measure. Heathrow Express has a reduced service, with trains departing at 25 and 55 past the hour from Paddington to the airport.
Firefighters in Derbyshire have been unable to put out a wildfire on Tintwistle Moor, which has been burning since last night. Six fire engines are said to be on scene, with helicopters also dropping water from above. Around 500 square meters of moorland and woodland have been ablaze, with the emergency services expected to remain there into the evening. While the area is small, the local Fire & Rescue team warned that wildfires need a ‘huge response’ to prevent escalation. ‘The ground is tinder dry and the slightest spark from a campfire, a tiny burning ember from a BBQ, or a flake of ash from a discarded cigarette could soon escalate to a major incident, so please act responsibly,’ they said in a statement.
Red Warning Issued for Three Days for the First Time
You might have seen other red weather warnings crop up, especially during the winter storm season, but a red warning for heat is rare. This heatwave is the first time the warning has been issued for three consecutive days. The Met Office’s first ever red warning was put out in July 2022, when a hot spell made life a misery and caused wildfires in London and the south. Met Office’s chief meteorologist Andy Page said what to expect before the heatwave tapers off: ‘This exceptional spell of hot and humid weather will maintain its grip on the UK for a little longer. Although the current red warning for areas in more central and western parts of England and Wales will expire later today, the heatwave will still be bringing high temperatures to these areas, albeit moving away from the peak heat of Wednesday and Thursday. We are expecting that some daytime maximum temperatures could exceed 36°C, perhaps rising to 37°C in some locations.’
Public Health Advice and Pet Safety
While it may seem reasonable to use damp towels to cool down your dog, the RSPCA says it could be doing more harm than good. Placing a damp towel over your pets coat may actually be trapping the heat on their body. In a message to pet owners, the RSPCA said: ‘Don’t place damp towels directly over the dog’s body, as this can trap heat and worsen their condition. You can place wet or damp towels beneath the dog – remembering to re-wet the towel frequently – but never over their body.’ According to the animal charity, an effective way of cooling off your pet may be to get them a cooling mat, or place ice packs wrapped in towels in their bed. A paddling pool or sprinkler may also help if your dog likes playing in water.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said the capital is not equipped to deal with this heat, to absolutely no one’s surprise. Londoners have been sweltering on the central line, baking in their tower block flats, and sheltering in any cafe they can find as a rare red weather warning for extreme heat is issued. And it is not just a matter of feeling warm. Homes have been destroyed during flash flooding following heavy thunderstorms on Tuesday, and 300 people were left trapped on a stranded train as Transport for London buckles under the heat.
