Wednesday became the hottest June day in the history of British measurements, breaking a record that had stood for half a century, the Met Office meteorological bureau reported.
Thermometers reached 35.8 degrees Celsius in the village of Wiggonholt in West Sussex, about 70 km from London. Additionally, 35.7 degrees Celsius was recorded in Charlwood in Surrey, near Gatwick airport. The previous record of 35.6 degrees Celsius was set in 1976 in Southampton during a notable heatwave and in 1957 at London’s Camden Square.
In response to the heat, a red weather alert issued by the Met Office is currently in effect in parts of Great Britain, indicating a threat to health and life. The alert covers London, southern and eastern England, Wales, East Midlands, and West Midlands, and will remain in effect until 11:59 PM Thursday. The heat is expected to persist at least until the end of the week.
Consequences of abnormal heat
Experts note that Western Europe is experiencing a “heat dome” — a high-pressure system that traps heat and moisture, as explained by Associated Press.
According to BBC, about 1,000 schools were closed or dismissed students early. Rail operators are advising passengers in red alert areas to travel only if absolutely necessary and are warning of potential delays and cancellations. This affects passengers of Gatwick Express, Stansted Express, Thameslink, London’s Elizabeth Line, Southern, Merseyrail, and Great Western Railway.
“A red alert means that the most vulnerable are the elderly, newborns, children under five, those with mobility issues who cannot easily move away from sunny spots, and individuals with chronic illnesses, especially respiratory and heart conditions”, Dr. Thomas Patten Campbell, deputy head of the Royal College of General Practitioners, an association of family doctors, told BBC.
Source: Gazeta.pl