As Climate Change Brings More Extreme Weather in UK, Met Office Recorded the Hottest Temperature

At 12:50 today, a tentative temperature of 40.2°C was recorded at Heathrow, breaking the previous record of 38.7°C from 2019 by 1.5°C.

We will have to wait to find out what the real new record will be because the temperature is expected to rise during the day.

Scotland and Wales may potentially set new temperature records.

Record-breaking heatwave in the UK

(Photo : Artur Tumasjan/Unsplash)

Both the first-ever Amber Extreme Heat warning and the first-ever Red Extreme Heat warning are still in effect throughout much of England, Wales, and southern Scotland.

Thunderstorms are possible today because of the severe heat, especially in certain areas of the southwest and later in the northeast of England.

Tomorrow, there is a Yellow Thunderstorm Warning for a portion of the Southeast.

The previous highest daily minimum record of 23.9°C was set in Brighton on August 3, 1990.

Last night, temperatures stayed above 20°C in many places, and overnight temperature records are anticipated to have been broken with 25.8°C provisionally recorded in Kenley, Surrey, and 24.5°C in Aberporth, Wales.

Neil Armstrong, the head of the Met Office, said that the UK is experiencing extreme temperatures today and advised people to make plans for the heat and think about altering their habits.

Health problems may result from exposure to this amount of heat.

The probability of thunderstorms is now rising along with the high heat, especially in the Northeast of England this afternoon (Tuesday) and in the south tomorrow (Wednesday).

The alert level was raised to red last week to coincide with the UK Health Security Agency's raising of the existing Heat Health Warning for England to Level 4.

Also Read: UK Temperatures Drops to 38C but More Likely To Increase on Tuesday

Huge surge in fires

Data indicated that 40.3C was recorded in Lincolnshire on the first day the UK ever saw temperatures exceeding 40C, as per The Guardian.

This came after the warmest night ever recorded when temperatures in certain areas failed to drop below 25C.

The forecaster predicted relief will soon be on the way in the form of thunderstorms on Wednesday.

According to preliminary Met Office data, Charterhall in the Scottish Borders achieved Scotland's hottest temperature ever, hitting 34.8C. It broke the previous record of 32.9C set on August 9, 2003, at Greycrook.

During the heatwave, at least 13 people perished after entering open water, and at least four of them were under the age of 17.

Water safety organizations fear that once schools are out for the summer, the death toll will rise.

In reaction to a significant increase in fires occurring around the capital, the London fire department declared a major incident.

Firefighters called the fires blazing through houses and buildings in London "total horror," with victims being rushed to hospitals and residents being evacuated. In the east London suburb of Wennington, residents were forced to flee their houses as flames tore down structures and decimated neighboring fields.

Following a fire in Dagenham, two further patients were transported to the hospital with smoke inhalation.

The moorland behind Dovestones reservoir is the subject of a Greater Manchester police information request regarding fires that are thought to have been intentionally lit.

British railway standards must be "driven up," according to the transport secretary.

The Victorian-era infrastructure, according to Grant Shapps, "wasn't meant to endure this sort of temperature." It would take decades to modify old lines to be more durable, he continued, and similar occurrences will happen more frequently.

The 999 and 111 services are consistently in demand at London's ambulance service.

The agency claimed that due to "an upsurge in the number of people experiencing heat exposure," it was responding to 400 calls each hour.

Related article: Places in UK Receives an Amber Warning as Hottest Temperatures Recorded This Year