Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Forecasters have issued warnings that temperatures in parts of England could soar to 35C on Tuesday as an ongoing heatwave continues to break records. On Monday, the UK experienced its highest May temperature on record, when a part of London registered 34.8C. This provisional reading, taken at Kew Gardens, also exceeded the previous record for the warmest bank holiday Monday, which stood at 33.3C in August 2019.
The Met Office described the level of heat as highly unusual, stating, “This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone in May.” Predictions suggest that similar conditions will persist on Tuesday, with slightly warmer air closer to the ground expected to push temperatures even higher. The greatest heat is forecast for south-east England, while many other areas across England and Wales should see temperatures climb into the high 20s. The northern regions of England are anticipated to experience fewer extreme temperature spikes compared to the previous day.
Alongside the high temperatures, most of the country will enjoy dry and sunny weather, though there is increased moisture that could lead to some thunderstorms in southern England, East Anglia, and possibly around Yorkshire. Wales also hit a record high for May on Monday, with 32.2C recorded at Hawarden Airport in Flintshire. So far this month, the UK has set more than half of its monthly high-temperature records since 2003, according to the Met Office. The unusually warm conditions are being driven by an area of high pressure near the UK, which causes warmth to build beneath it, explained Dan Suri, the Met Office’s chief operational meteorologist.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the highest temperatures recorded this year so far also fell on Monday, reaching 25.5C in Charterhall and 25.8C at Derrylin in County Fermanagh. Meanwhile, around 500 homes in Sussex and Kent experienced intermittent or no water supply on Monday afternoon due to increased demand caused by the heat. High temperatures led to cancellations of several bank holiday events across the UK. In Surrey, the annual donkey derby organized by the Leatherhead Lions Club was altered to exclude donkeys and a dog show, prioritizing the welfare and comfort of the animals.
The UK regions of the North East, North West, South West, and Yorkshire and Humber are currently under a yellow weather alert, which will remain in place until 17:00 BST on Wednesday. Amid the extreme heat, authorities have issued safety advice: the AA cautioned drivers about vehicles heating up to 60C in the sun and emphasized not leaving children, vulnerable passengers, or pets unattended in parked cars, even briefly. Age UK suggested that people stay indoors between 11:00 and 15:00, taking regular cold showers or baths to cope with the heat.
Experts believe climate change has contributed to the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves like this one. The Met Office’s State of the UK Climate report highlights that, compared to the 1961-1990 average, the number of days in the UK with temperatures exceeding 28C has more than doubled, and days above 30C have more than tripled in recent years. As Hannah Cloke, Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate at the University of Reading, said on BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme, “This is what climate change feels like.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.