UK heatwave: Wildfires destroy houses on hottest day on record

Wildfires broke out across the UK today as residents tried to save houses with buckets of water amid blazes across the country in record 40.3C heat.

Firefighters have described blazes tearing through homes and buildings in London as ‘absolute hell’ – with residents evacuated after at last five houses were destroyed, two people taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, and 1,600 calls for assistance.

Elsewhere in the country hundreds of fire crews are out battling raging infernos in Wales, Scotland and the rest of England as ‘tinderbox’ dry conditions in the UK caused wildfires to threaten homes, animals and people and a children’s nursery was destroyed in Milton Keynes.

Fire services in London, Hertfordshire, Bucks and Leicestershire declared major incidents as they were hit with tens of thousands of calls and ‘significant fires’ meaning automatic fire alarms will not prompt a response and people are asked to refrain from calling unless it’s an emergency. 

At least 34 parts of the country broke the UK’s previous national record of 38.7C today, the Met Office said with the new national record set by Coningsby, Lincolnshire which hit an unprecedented 40.3C (104.54) while London Heathrow also saw highs of 40.2C (104.4F). 

Scotland also recorded its hottest day ever as temperatures climbed to 34.8C (94.64) at Charterhall and Wales might beat its new record set yesterday of 37.1C in Hawarden, Flintshire.

Even when the heat finally clears this afternoon, the Met Office said London and the East of England will see thunderstorms tomorrow as it issues a yellow weather warning. 

 Smoke has seen the skies turn grey throughout most of the country and so far in these areas below firefighters are tackling blazes:  

** Are you in Wennington or anywhere else hit by wildfires today? Please email: tips@dailymail.com ** 

  • 30 fire engines tackling a grass fire on Pea Lane in Upminster;
  • 15 fire engines tackling a fire on The Green in Wennington;
  • 12 fire engines tackling a fire involving garden fencing and trees on Uxbridge Road in Pinner;
  • Ten fire engines tackling a restaurant fire on Green Lanes in Southgate;
  • Eight fire engines tackling a grass fire on Oaks Road in Croydon;
  • Eight fire engines tackling a grass fire on Ballards Road in Dagenham;
  • Eight fire engines tackling a fire on The Broadway in Wembley;
  • Six fire engines tackling a grass fire on Sunningfields Crescent in Hendon;
  • Four fire engines tackling a grass fire on Chapel View in Croydon;
  • Four fire engines tackling a fire on Sidcup Road in Eltham;
  • Two fire engines tackling a field fire near Rotherham, South Yorkshire; 
  • Six fire engines tackling a farm blaze near Kelso, Scotland 
  • Six fire engines at a combine harvester fire in Hamels Lane, Buntingford
  • Five fire engines at an RTC on the M1 in Hertfordshire 
  • Six fire engines at a field fire in Rushden, Hertfordshire 
  • Six fire engines at a field fire in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
  • 12 fire engines at a field fire in Codicote, Hertfordshire
  • Eight fire crews at a large grass fire near Bradgate Park, Leicestershire
  • Ten fire engines are tackling a grass fire on Western Avenue, Uxbridge
  • 10 appliances at a scrap yard fire in Field Road, Denham
  • 11 appliances at a barn fire which has completely destroyed the building in Whitehouse Lane, Wycombe

The extreme heat has been caused by a plume of hot air from north Africa and the Sahara and an ‘Azores High’ subtropical pressure system creeping further north than usual – which experts say is a result of climate change. 

Forecasters said an absolute maximum of 43C (109F) is possible later on – and the highs in England are equal to the warmest spots anywhere in Europe today. The UK is also hotter than Jamaica, the Maldives and Barbados.

The ‘extreme heat’ also led to almost 15,000 homes in the North East being left without power at about 2pm as electrical equipment overheated during the record temperatures. 

Roads have also been closed as fires broke out on the major motorways including the M25 and M1 today due to wildfires and vehicle blazes. 

Ambulance services are also under ‘extreme pressure’ from sunstroke patients with 999 and 111 handlers getting hundreds of calls an hour. 

This is all while public transport was cancelled in much of the country with trains and London Underground services suspended as tracks continued to buckle and combust. 

The UK is also being warned these temperatures could soon be the ‘new normal’ as Britain starts to see wildfires, extreme heat and pressure on the water supply which has long plagued Europe.

Families now homeless in Wennington, where the worst of the wildfires has been seen, were at first sent to a Premier Inn before that lost power and they were directed to go to Hornchurch Sport Centre to sleep on air mattresses as their ‘worst nightmare’ came true. 

A huge grass blaze broke out in Wennington, East London, this afternoon has destroyed at least five homes 

A fire burns the Kiddi Caru nursery in the Walnut Tree area of Milton Keynes down to the ground today as blazes take hold of areas across England

A fire burns the Kiddi Caru nursery in the Walnut Tree area of Milton Keynes down to the ground today as blazes take hold of areas across England

A row of houses on fire in the village of Wennington in East London this afternoon as temperatures soar again today

A row of houses on fire in the village of Wennington in East London this afternoon as temperatures soar again today

The fire at Wennington is shown today (left) and the area is also pictured before the blaze (right, file picture)

A woman is given water and comforted close to the blaze in the village of Wennington, east London, where 100 firefighters are tackling a fire

A woman is given water and comforted close to the blaze in the village of Wennington, east London, where 100 firefighters are tackling a fire

This picture shows homes on fire as a huge heath fire ravages at least three houses near Rotherham, South Yorkshire

This picture shows homes on fire as a huge heath fire ravages at least three houses near Rotherham, South Yorkshire

Shocking pictures show a huge bush fire raging on the Dartford marshes, Kent today

Shocking pictures show a huge bush fire raging on the Dartford marshes, Kent today 

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington in East London today as the heatwave continues

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington in East London today as the heatwave continues 

People remove gas canisters from Lennards pub as firefighters tackle a blaze in the village of Wennington this afternoon

People remove gas canisters from Lennards pub as firefighters tackle a blaze in the village of Wennington this afternoon

Another house was also destroyed in the Wennington fire this afternoon which was seen from above in this Sky News aerial

Another house was also destroyed in the Wennington fire this afternoon which was seen from above in this Sky News aerial

The huge grass blaze has spread to houses in Wennington, East London, this afternoon amid the extreme heat

The huge grass blaze has spread to houses in Wennington, East London, this afternoon amid the extreme heat

Some 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade are dealing with the Wennington blaze today

Some 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade are dealing with the Wennington blaze today

A huge black smoke cloud spreads as round 100 firefighters tackle a blaze in the village of Wennington this afternoon as the heatwave continues

A huge black smoke cloud spreads as round 100 firefighters tackle a blaze in the village of Wennington this afternoon as the heatwave continues

A fire on Dartford Heath next to the A2 in Kent this afternoon, with smoke spreading across the road

A fire on Dartford Heath next to the A2 in Kent this afternoon, with smoke spreading across the road

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington in East London today as the heatwave continues

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington in East London today as the heatwave continues

A fire on Peckham High Street in South London this afternoon as the heatwave continues to cause chaos in the capital

A fire on Peckham High Street in South London this afternoon as the heatwave continues to cause chaos in the capital

The remains of a fire near Dartford Heath on the A2 coastbound, Crayford today is seen as smoke spreads throughout the area

The remains of a fire near Dartford Heath on the A2 coastbound, Crayford today is seen as smoke spreads throughout the area

Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon

Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon

Firefighters attend a blaze on Dartford Marshes in Kent today after temperatures reached 40C for the first time on record

Firefighters attend a blaze on Dartford Marshes in Kent today after temperatures reached 40C for the first time on record

Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon

Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon

A firefighter tackles a grass fire in a park in New Brighton in Merseyside this afternoon amid the heatwave

A firefighter tackles a grass fire in a park in New Brighton in Merseyside this afternoon amid the heatwave

Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon

Firefighters attend a gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service issued this picture of firefighters attend to a grass fire in Rixton, Warrington, today

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service issued this picture of firefighters attend to a grass fire in Rixton, Warrington, today

A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon amid the very high temperatures

A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon amid the very high temperatures

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

Firefighters rest as they attend a gorse bush fire during a heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon

Firefighters rest as they attend a gorse bush fire during a heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

Drone footage of the aftermath of a field fire by Cheshunt Park in Hertfordshire pictured today, after it started yesterday

Drone footage of the aftermath of a field fire by Cheshunt Park in Hertfordshire pictured today, after it started yesterday

A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon amid the very high temperatures

A gorse bush fire during the heatwave near Zennor in Cornwall this afternoon amid the very high temperatures

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

A fire in Upminster, Essex, today as the hot weather continues amid a series of extreme weather warnings

A fire in Upminster, Essex, today as the hot weather continues amid a series of extreme weather warnings

The burnt out remains of Lickey Hills parkland in Birmingham this morning where fire crews are still on the scene

The burnt out remains of Lickey Hills parkland in Birmingham this morning where fire crews are still on the scene

TEN hottest places as old record is obliterated

40.3C Coningsby, Lincs

40.2C Heathrow, London

40.0C Waddington, Lincs

40.0C Humberside

40.0C Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster

39.5C Northolt, London

39.4C Scampton, Lincs

39.3C Woburn, Beds

39.2C Watnall, Notts

39.2C Cranwell, Lincs

38.7C Previous UK record (Cambridge, July 2019)

In Charlwood, Surrey, beat the previous all-time UK high of 38.7C (101.7F) in Cambridge in July 2019. In third place is 38.5C (101.3F) in Kent in August 2003, and 38.1C (100.6F) in Suffolk yesterday is fourth.

Elsewhere in England this afternoon, by lunchtime the mercury had got up to 39.9C (103.8F) at Charlwood, 39.6C (103.3F) at Kew Gardens in West London, 39.3C (102.7F) at Wisley in Surrey, and 39.2C (102.6F) at both Chertsey in Surrey and Northolt in West London – with all of these readings also beating the all-time UK high from 2019.

And smoke drifted over the M25 as almost 200 firefighters and 30 fire engines tried to extinguish a corn field blaze in Upminster. Firefighters in London said they were battling ‘several significant fires’ including these ten:

Residents were evacuated from their homes in the village of Wennington, east London, on Tuesday afternoon, where black smoke billowed into the air, while flames destroyed buildings and ravaged nearby fields.

A firefighter at the scene, asked by the PA news agency what conditions were like, replied: ‘absolute hell’, while those affected by the blaze said it had been spreading ‘fast’.

Lizzie Pittman, from Aveley in Essex, who works at some stables by the roundabout, said she was looking after the five horses who had been removed from their stables in Wennington, which had burnt down. 

Ms Pittman said: ‘This is your worst nightmare. You can see it getting closer and closer.

‘People are losing their houses but that’s bricks and mortar. People are losing their livestock.’

Two people were also taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation following a fire in Dagenham. London Fire Brigade (LFB) declared a major incident due to ‘a huge surge’ in blazes across the capital.

While London Ambulance Service Gold Commander Peter Rhodes said: ‘We are seeing an increase in the number of patients experiencing heat exposure’ 

‘Sustained demand on our 999 and 111 services as a result of the heatwave, and with hot weather set to continue, we are currently at Level 4 of our Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP) – which is the highest level and represents ‘extreme pressure’.

‘This move allows us to allocate even more staff on the road and in our control rooms and to reprioritise our operational efforts to ensure we provide the best care possible to Londoners.’

A huge blaze also broke out on heathland just across the Thames near a housing estate in Dartford today. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said 12 fire engines and 100 firefighters were called in to battle the inferno near a housing development on the site of the former Joyce Green Hospital. A technical rescue unit were in attendance, and crews were working to extinguish the flames. There have been no reports of any damage to property in this incident.

Firefighters warned people nearby to close their windows and doors as a precaution due to smoke – and drivers travelling on the A2 or surrounding roads were told to take extra care because the smoke may impact visibility.

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

Maximum temperatures of at least 40C are expected in England this afternoon - but could rise even further to as high as 43C

Maximum temperatures of at least 40C are expected in England this afternoon – but could rise even further to as high as 43C

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a grass fire came within feet of homes

Jonathan Smith, assistant commissioner at LFB, told Sky News many of the fires are spread over wide areas and began because the ground is ‘tinderbox dry’.

He continued: ‘So even a small fire will develop very, very quickly if it’s not tackled effectively and efficiently in its early stages. We would also say to people that they don’t try and tackle fires themselves.

‘The situation that you can see is extremely dynamic and these fires can develop very very quickly and we would not want to see members of the public exposing themselves to unnecessary risk.’

Ed Miliband, Labour’s shadow secretary of state for climate change, said that extreme hot weather like this will become the ‘new normal’ under climate change.

‘Reports of fires across the country are deeply distressing. We must do everything we can to support the families and communities affected. I urge everyone to stay safe and salute the courage of our fire services,’ he said.

‘The frightening truth is that in time we will come to see today not as the hottest summer ever but the new normal. Britain is in no way prepared for this new reality because of years of neglect by this Government.’

Wennington resident, Lynn Sabberton, who said she was evacuated from her home with her partner who has a lung difficulty, told Sky News: ‘We thought it was one of the fields that caught alight over the back of us.

‘But then a neighbour rang me and said, ‘oh no, it’s on the green, the green has caught fire’. I saw the black smoke and the helicopters came over and more police came into our neighbourhood and it was really spreading very fast.

‘It just spread so quickly, I think the wind caused the fire to go our way towards the village.’

A man runs along a street with a hosepipe on July 19, 2022 in Wennington, England

A man runs along a street with a hosepipe on July 19, 2022 in Wennington, England

Police were called amid concerns over public safety due to people jumping into the river and lighting portable BBQs at River Swales Waterfalls

Police were called amid concerns over public safety due to people jumping into the river and lighting portable BBQs at River Swales Waterfalls

Freya Gutteridge, 23, from nearby Hornchurch – who works in marketing, told PA: ‘I noticed the fire in Wennington when I went to lunch at two and since then our whole office has just been watching – everywhere we look there’s a new one.

‘We’re all really worried, the wind is strong and we’re seeing on the news that loads of houses are on fire and there isn’t enough fire engines.

‘It’s crazy. Most of us in the office live really locally so we’re all worried about families’ houses at the moment.’

Witness Pierre L’Aimable told Sky News: ‘We were driving down the road and we just saw so much smoke, we could see it from Hornchurch just going into the air.

‘We were going to visit one of my business partners and the fire was just immense.’

Mr Smith added that resources would be at the scene into the evening, warning that any spark not dealt with could risk ‘reignition’.

Emergency services fight fires in a row of houses on July 19, 2022 in Wennington as at least five homes have been gutted

Emergency services fight fires in a row of houses on July 19, 2022 in Wennington as at least five homes have been gutted 

This picture shows the fire still burning at a home which has been blackened and its roof torn off amid devastating fires

This picture shows the fire still burning at a home which has been blackened and its roof torn off amid devastating fires 

In this aerial view, smoke from fires being fought by fire services seen in Wennington as London's firefighters try to battle the infernos

In this aerial view, smoke from fires being fought by fire services seen in Wennington as London’s firefighters try to battle the infernos 

The inferno is also close to the Grade II-listed medieval St Mary and St Peter’s Church which dates back to the 12th century. Police were not letting the public through the cordoned off area and were extending the danger zone.

Distressed residents could be seen on the phones trying to get information, and villagers were also seen carrying buckets of water to the Lennards Arms pub where the community had gathered – but officers then evacuated the pub as the inferno rapidly approached.

Briae Brazier, 75, who lives in Rainham and works with horses, was leaning on a police car topless and said: ‘The fire has burnt my stables out. It started as a little fire around the back of the houses and if someone had been there to put it out we wouldn’t have had all this trouble. It was a little fire out the back garden.’

Walter Martin, 61, landlord of the Lennards Arms, a local pup that has escaped the flames for now, said: ‘I got a phone call at about 12:50 and I saw a little smoke, I walked around and saw a small fire and then saw it just go up. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s awful. People are in shock. People are devastated.’

Pensioner Lynn Sabberton told Sky News police came to her home and told her she and her husband who suffers from a lung condition had to evacuate. She said: ‘We were told that one of the fields had caught fire. The police came to our house and told us to get what we could like personal belongings.’

Lorry driver Gary Ruel, 63, who has lived in the area since 2005 was evacuated from his house today and said: ‘My house is right next to the fire. All we have heard is the fire is close to the church. I live at number 19 but we can’t go down there so no one knows what’s going on.

‘No one will give us any information. I just hope everyone is safe, that’s all I can say. I’m really worried about my house. I might have lost three cats, I got the dog out but didn’t have time for the cats.’

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said 18 fire engines were now at the scene of a grass fire near Durrell Dene, in Joyce Green, Dartford.

People wait to see if they will get on any trains today as services remain cancelled in much of the train network

People wait to see if they will get on any trains today as services remain cancelled in much of the train network 

Alton Towers thrill-seekers had to be led down the Oblivion rollercoaster at the Staffordshire theme park on the hottest day of the year today

Alton Towers thrill-seekers had to be led down the Oblivion rollercoaster at the Staffordshire theme park on the hottest day of the year today 

Some 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade are dealing with the Wennington blaze in East London

Some 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade are dealing with the Wennington blaze in East London

Homes in Wennington can be seen on fire and completely blackened by the raging wildfire amid devastating temperatures

Homes in Wennington can be seen on fire and completely blackened by the raging wildfire amid devastating temperatures 

The scene of a blaze in the village of Wennington, east London. London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident due to "a huge surge" in blazes across the capital

The scene of a blaze in the village of Wennington, east London. London Fire Brigade has declared a major incident due to ‘a huge surge’ in blazes across the capital

A view near Dartford heath as fires raged throughout London today as unprecedent wildfires raged in the capital

A view near Dartford heath as fires raged throughout London today as unprecedent wildfires raged in the capital 

People jump and do somersaults on Brighton Beach as some try to cool off during the record breaking temperatures

People jump and do somersaults on Brighton Beach as some try to cool off during the record breaking temperatures 

Shocking videos show a huge bush fire raging on the Dartford marshes, Kent

Shocking videos show a huge bush fire raging on the Dartford marshes, Kent

A spokesman said: ‘Firefighters are using a fogging unit, two all-terrain vehicles and a bulk water carrier to bring the fire under control and extinguish the flames.

‘The technical rescue unit is also in attendance and crews are using a telehandler machine to create a fire break, to stop the fire from spreading further. No injuries have been reported.

Members of KFRS’ volunteer response team are on-hand to provide welfare and support. People who live or work in the affected area are advised to close their windows and doors as a precaution, due to smoke coming from fire. Drivers travelling on the surrounding roads are also asked to take extra care, as the smoke may impact visibility.

One blaze at Lickey Hills Country Park near Birmingham, spread to 50,000 square metres and forced 15 people to flee their homes, while firefighters in Essex said they were receiving three times their average number of calls.

There was also a fire near Stonehenge this afternoon, with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Rescue mobilising crews who used pumping appliances and water carriers to fight ‘multiple seats of fire’ around fields at Winterbourne Stoke.

West Midlands Fire Service received 717 incident calls yesterday – a rise of 280 in the space of a week, while crews in Hereford and Worcester had 54 fires based around fields, undergrowth and woodland. In Nottinghamshire, fire crews saw a ‘significant increase’ in grass fires over the last month, with numbers up even more this week.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it has had a very high volume of 999 calls today leading to crews attending more than 240 emergency incidents so far, in part due to the extreme weather. These incidents include crop fires, field fires, and road traffic collisions on major roads. 

Eight fire crews also battled a grass in Bradgate Park forcing Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service to also declare a major incident. 

The service said its one of many its currently tackling, writing on Twitter: ‘The fire service have declared a major incident due to the increase of call outs relating to the heatwave. Fires spread in the heat – assess the risk, is it worth it?’

Meanwhile Scotland saw a huge blaze at farm this afternoon which six crews tried to tackle assisted by farm workers.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told the Daily Record: ‘We were alerted at 1.56pm on Tuesday 19 July to reports of a large fire in a field at Hadden Farm near Kelso.

‘Operations control immediately mobilised six fire appliances to the location. Farm workers assisted in creating a fire break and firefighters extinguished the fire.

‘Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.’

Northern Powergrid told the BBC it is trying to restore power to around 14,500 properties in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the North East. ‘We worked last night and into the early hours of today to restore power after yesterday’s extreme temperatures,’ a spokesperson from the firm said.

The Met Office has confirmed that last night was the warmest night on record in Britain, with temperatures not falling below 25C (77F) in many areas of England and Wales. The highest overnight minimum in the UK last night was 25.9C (78.6F) at Emley Moor in West Yorkshire, while it was 25.8C (78.4F) at Kenley in Croydon, South London.

This smashed the previous record of 23.9C (75F) in Brighton set on August 3, 1990. It comes one day after Wales had its hottest day ever with 37.1C (99F) in Hawarden, Flintshire – beating a record set in the same village in 1990. 

Smoke issuing from a fire on Fields Road in Denham, several buildings were on fire which sent thick black smoke in to the air

Smoke issuing from a fire on Fields Road in Denham, several buildings were on fire which sent thick black smoke in to the air

Firefighters at a fire on Fields Road in Denham, several buildings were on fire which sent thick black smoke in to the air

Firefighters at a fire on Fields Road in Denham, several buildings were on fire which sent thick black smoke in to the air

Police are seen as crowds gather at River Swales Waterfalls, in Richmond as people enjoy the hottest day recorded in the UK

Police are seen as crowds gather at River Swales Waterfalls, in Richmond as people enjoy the hottest day recorded in the UK

Police were called amid concerns over public safety due to people jumping into the river and lighting portable BBQs

Police were called amid concerns over public safety due to people jumping into the river and lighting portable BBQs

In Cambridgeshire today, the surface of the A14 at Bottisham appeared to have melted and buckled. And on the trains, Network Rail and operators upgraded their travel advice for those heading north out of London into the red warning area to ‘do not travel’, saying there will be no services in or out of London King’s Cross all day today. 

The heat has brought major rail chaos for commuters around the capital, with no Thameslink or Great Northern trains running in any location north of London, from Blackfriars via St Pancras, or from King’s Cross or Moorgate.

There was a lineside fire in London’s Harrow today, while overhead electric wires were down in Rugby, Birmingham and Carlisle, leading to a number of trains being trapped. Emergency evacuations of passengers were ongoing. Network Rail said passenger numbers today were around 40 per cent lower than during the same day last week. 

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told people across Britain today to ‘apply common sense’ and ‘depending on the nature of your journey and reason for it, you might want to consider rearranging your day around it’. 

But the sight of parts of the UK shutting down sparked a backlash, with complaints that ministers and health chiefs were ‘acting like nanny’ – while holidaymakers were delayed yesterday as a part of runway at Luton Airport melted.

Today, the Supreme Court in London was closed to visitors because of the heat and an air-conditioning fault. A sign was posted at the building’s entrance explaining the problem, although hearings could still be viewed online. 

But the extreme heat is likely to end with a bang tomorrow, with the Met Office issuing a thunderstorm warning for between 1pm and 9pm across the South East amid concerns of sudden flooding, lightning strikes and power cuts. Forecasters said up to 1.2in (30mm) of rain could fall in some areas in just an hour and 2in (50mm) in three hours. 

Before then, with the UK’s first ever red warning for extreme heat still predicted to see the 40C (104F) barrier broken for the first time ever this afternoon, normal life was on hold in parts of the country as:

  • At least 171 schools closed, with teachers claiming learning was impossible in sweltering classrooms;
  • Hospitals cancelled appointments and non-urgent operations as operating theatres turned into ovens;
  • Royal Mail workers were told to return to sorting offices with undelivered mail amid fears they would fall ill;
  • Experts recommended avoiding the beach and holding off exercising until the extreme heat has passed;
  • Commuter numbers on roads and railways were down by up to a fifth, and tracks on some lines buckled;
  • There was a spate of water-related tragedies, including a 13-year-old boy’s body pulled from the River Tyne;
  • A 50-fold increase in demand for fans alongside a boom for bottled water, ice lollies and canned cocktails;
  • Water companies raised the prospect of hosepipe bans amid fears of a summer drought.

LNER will run no trains from south of York and south of Leeds to King’s Cross – and Southern, Southeastern, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway are among the operators running significantly reduced services.

All trains between London Euston and Milton Keynes were suspended this afternoon as emergency services dealt  with a lineside fire. The blaze was caused when 25,000 volt overhead electric cables came down in Harrow.

James Dean, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said: ‘As predicted the extreme temperatures have impacted the overhead cables on the West Coast main line and all trains have had to be stopped at Harrow in North London. Please follow our ‘do not travel’ message today as journeys are being severely impacted. 

‘Once the emergency services give us the go ahead we will work as fast as we can to restore the railway lines. We’re sorry to people impacted and we’re working as fast as we can to get things back up and running.’

All trains were also stopped at Birmingham New Street station after a power line fault. Network Rail said its rapid response team is dealing with a fault involving the overhead electric cables outside the station.

Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: ‘As predicted the extreme temperatures have impacted our overhead cables which power trains and we’ve had to stop all trains at Birmingham New Street station.

‘Please keep following our ‘do not travel’ message today as journeys are being severely impacted. We’re sorry to people impacted and we’re working as fast as we can to get things back up and running.’

On the London Underground, there was no Hammersmith & City line, no Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate due to ‘heat-related speed restrictions’ and no Jubilee line between Waterloo and Willesden Green.

There were severe delays on the Central, District and Victoria lines; severe delays on the sections of the Jubilee and Metropolitan that were in operation; and no Overground between Willesden Junction and Richmond or Romford and Upminster. There were also delays on the western and eastern sections of the Elizabeth line.

Woman is seen in a bikini in Battersea Park where people are cooling off today amid scorching heat

Woman is seen in a bikini in Battersea Park where people are cooling off today amid scorching heat 

Scorching temperatures in London where people were seen cooling of in the fountain in Battersea Park

Scorching temperatures in London where people were seen cooling of in the fountain in Battersea Park

Two women dip their heads into the fountain to cool off at Trafalgar Square in London this morning amid the extreme heat

Two women dip their heads into the fountain to cool off at Trafalgar Square in London this morning amid the extreme heat

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

The surface of the A14 at Bottisham in Cambridgeshire appears to have melted and buckled today during the heatwave

The surface of the A14 at Bottisham in Cambridgeshire appears to have melted and buckled today during the heatwave

A group of women walk along the pebbles of Brighton beach today as they head to the coast of East Sussex

A group of women walk along the pebbles of Brighton beach today as they head to the coast of East Sussex

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

A member of F Company Scots Guards swelters during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace today

A member of F Company Scots Guards swelters during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace today

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a huge grass fire came within feet of homes

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a huge grass fire came within feet of homes

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington this afternoon as the heatwave continues

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the village of Wennington this afternoon as the heatwave continues

People on the beach in Bournemouth today as temperatures soar across England to record levels

People on the beach in Bournemouth today as temperatures soar across England to record levels

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

A young woman in the fountains at Trafalgar Square in London today as the heatwave continues

A young woman in the fountains at Trafalgar Square in London today as the heatwave continues

Beachgoers make the best of the scorching morning temperatures at West Bay in Dorset today

Beachgoers make the best of the scorching morning temperatures at West Bay in Dorset today

Peter Dolby jumps into the water at Compton Lock in Winchester today on what is expected to be the hottest day on record

Peter Dolby jumps into the water at Compton Lock in Winchester today on what is expected to be the hottest day on record

Two women lay a towel on the sand at Bournemouth beach today as sunbathers flock to the Dorset coast to enjoy the heat

Two women lay a towel on the sand at Bournemouth beach today as sunbathers flock to the Dorset coast to enjoy the heat

A man and woman sit in the River Dove in Dovedale today during the heatwave as people enjoy the weather in Derbyshire

A man and woman sit in the River Dove in Dovedale today during the heatwave as people enjoy the weather in Derbyshire

Sunworshippers on Brighton beach this morning on day two of the red extreme heat warning

Sunworshippers on Brighton beach this morning on day two of the red extreme heat warning

People on the beach in Bournemouth today as temperatures soar across England to record levels

People on the beach in Bournemouth today as temperatures soar across England to record levels

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

A woman sits by the fountains at Trafalgar Square in London today as Britons experience the hottest UK day on record

A woman sits by the fountains at Trafalgar Square in London today as Britons experience the hottest UK day on record 

London Bridge today

London Bridge today

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work today

People enjoy the hottest day of year at Stainforth Force in the Yorkshire Dales this afternoon as they cool off

People enjoy the hottest day of year at Stainforth Force in the Yorkshire Dales this afternoon as they cool off

People flock to the beach and seafront at Southend-on-Sea this morning as an Essex Police officer walks past

People flock to the beach and seafront at Southend-on-Sea this morning as an Essex Police officer walks past

Cyclist Oonagh Thin, 24 takes a rest to enjoy the sun at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh this morning

Cyclist Oonagh Thin, 24 takes a rest to enjoy the sun at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh this morning

Australian cabaret and circus troupe Briefs take to the water to attempt to cool themselves during a photocall for "Bites" outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London today

Australian cabaret and circus troupe Briefs take to the water to attempt to cool themselves during a photocall for ‘Bites’ outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London today

Two women sunbathe on Brighton beach in East Sussex this morning on day two of the red extreme heat warning

Two women sunbathe on Brighton beach in East Sussex this morning on day two of the red extreme heat warning

Racehorses get cooled down at trainer Sue Smith's yard near Bingley in West Yorkshire this morning

Racehorses get cooled down at trainer Sue Smith’s yard near Bingley in West Yorkshire this morning

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park today

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London’s Hyde Park today

A member of the Household Cavalry has a fan placed next to him at Horse Guards Parade in Central London this morning

A member of the Household Cavalry has a fan placed next to him at Horse Guards Parade in Central London this morning

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire - known as 'Blue Lagoon' - on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire – known as ‘Blue Lagoon’ – on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

A horse at Horse Guards Parade in Westminster is given some water to cool down as the heatwave continues

A horse at Horse Guards Parade in Westminster is given some water to cool down as the heatwave continues

Siblings Joshua, Harry and Chloe jump into the water at Compton Lock in Winchester, Hampshire, this morning

Siblings Joshua, Harry and Chloe jump into the water at Compton Lock in Winchester, Hampshire, this morning

A member of the Household Cavalry feels the heat at Horse Guards Parade in London today as the heatwave continues

A member of the Household Cavalry feels the heat at Horse Guards Parade in London today as the heatwave continues

The Tarmac on Crook Mill Road in East Halton, North Lincolnshire, is sizzling today due to the current heatwave

The Tarmac on Crook Mill Road in East Halton, North Lincolnshire, is sizzling today due to the current heatwave

People walk along the sand at Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning ahead of another very hot day at the seaside

People walk along the sand at Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning ahead of another very hot day at the seaside

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Friends Isaac Pratt and Connie Dolby hold hands as they drift down the river at Compton Lock in Winchester this morning

Friends Isaac Pratt and Connie Dolby hold hands as they drift down the river at Compton Lock in Winchester this morning

The dried out bed and reduced water levels in the Thruscross Reservoir in North Yorkshire, pictured this morning

The dried out bed and reduced water levels in the Thruscross Reservoir in North Yorkshire, pictured this morning

A woman enjoys the hot weather on a paddleboard at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside this morning

A woman enjoys the hot weather on a paddleboard at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside this morning

People on the beach in Bournemouth this afternoon as Britons bake on the hottest UK day on record

People on the beach in Bournemouth this afternoon as Britons bake on the hottest UK day on record

Police smashed the window of a £25,000 electric Hyundai to save a dog trapped inside in London's Leicester Square

Police smashed the window of a £25,000 electric Hyundai to save a dog trapped inside in London’s Leicester Square 

The UK has experienced its warmest night on record, according to provisional Met Office figures as shown in this map

The UK has experienced its warmest night on record, according to provisional Met Office figures as shown in this map

In the West End, Oxford Circus station was closed this morning while London Fire Brigade crews investigated what they said were ‘reports of smoke issuing from an escalator machine room on the northbound Victoria line’. 

Transport for London said London’s rail network will be running a reduced service throughout today due to safety restrictions put into place to deal with the heat, and Gatwick Express trains were completely suspended.

Heatwave death toll soars to 13 with two missing: Man in his 20s dies in Cotswolds as search is launched for swimmer dragged out to sea in Essex and hunt continues for 14-year-old boy in River Thames 

A man in his 20s has become the latest to drown after attempting to cool off from the scorching temperatures by going for a swim at a water park in Wiltshire.

At least 13 people have died in heatwave-related incidents since the heatwave began on July 9, bringing with it record-breaking temperatures. 

It comes after it was confirmed a man had died from drowning, bringing Monday’s death toll alone to five.

Robert Hattersley, 13, from Crawcrook

Robert Hattersley, 13, died after an incident on Sunday at Ovingham, Northumberland

The 70-year-old man was pulled unconscious from the water in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. Emergency services battled for 40 minutes to save his life but he was declared dead at the scene.

In Wiltshire, police confirmed the man in his 20s had died at Cotswold Water Park in Ashton Keynes. The force said the man was pulled from the water but pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 6pm. 

Meanwhile, a boy aged 14 is feared dead in Richmond after he was declared missing when he was spotted getting into difficulty in the Thames in West London and at least one person is missing after going for a swim in Clacton, Essex, with a search operation ongoing.

In Richmond, emergency services were called at 5pm yesterday to reports of a child seen in the water at Tagg’s Island in Hampton and searched the area for the boy but were unsuccessful. 

Also yesterday, a 16-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in Bray Lake in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

A 16-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in Bray Lake near Maidenhead in Berkshire yesterday

A 16-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in Bray Lake near Maidenhead in Berkshire yesterday

Robert Hattersley, 13, from Crawcrook, died following an incident in the River Tyne on Sunday as his family said they were ‘absolutely devastated’. The ‘kind and loving’ teenager died after getting into difficulty in a river near Ovingham, Northumberland, over the weekend.

Yesterday, police were also seen near the River Irwell in Bury at around 4pm as police parked in Jubilee Way. 

A man was also rescued yesterday by fire, police and ambulance services yesterday after he was seen in Erewash canal near Sandiacre, Derbyshire.

A 37-year-old man died after being pulled out of the sea at Brighton beach on Saturday evening. 

In Scotland a 51-year-old man died after his kayak capsized on the River Spey, Moray, on Sunday. 

The same night, a man in his 50s died after falling from a boat and getting into difficulty in the water in Northern Ireland. Emergency services rushed to the scene at Cromane Bay, Kilorglin, at around 10pm.

Also on Sunday, a 50-year-old man died at Ardsley Reservoir, West Yorkshire, it was reported, after he got into difficulty while swimming.

On Saturday a 16-year-old Kalen Waugh drowned in Salford Quays on Saturday, causing Greater Manchester Police to issue a fresh warning about swimming.

Two other schoolboys drowned in separate swimming accidents last week.

After getting into difficulties while swimming in a quarry at Appley Bridge, Lancashire, on July 9, 16-year-old Jamie Lewin died. The promising boxer who ‘loved life’ and was ‘was one in a million’ was the third teenager in just seven years to lose his life at the quarry.

Just two days later Alfie McCraw, also 16, from Wakefield, who had only recently finished his GCSEs, died after swimming in a West Yorkshire canal.

In North Wales, Emma Louise Powell, 24, drowned while paddleboarding with two friends last Thursday evening.

The ‘happy go lucky’ woman got into difficulties at the beauty spot at Conwy Morfa with her two friends. All three were rescued from the water following a major rescue operation, but Ms Powell, from Llandudno, died. 

Network Rail had previously warned customers to travel only if ‘absolutely necessary’ today. It said the hottest rail track was 62C (143F) in Suffolk yesterday – where the air temperature was 38.1C (100.6F). Merseyrail said the number of trains running and journey times will be ‘seriously affected’, with some routes shut.

East Midlands Railway is running limited services between Derby, Nottingham, Luton, Bedford and London, which will stop completely between lunchtime and 7pm – the hottest period of the day.

There are limited and disrupted services running into and out of London Marylebone with Chiltern Railway, according to Network Rail.

Meanwhile a section of the A14 dual carriageway in Cambridgeshire was left looking like a ‘skatepark’ after it warped in the heatwave yesterday, police said.

Policing East Cambridgeshire said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, with a photo of the damaged road surface: ‘No, the A14 is not being turned into a skatepark… unfortunately the road surface isn’t coping well in this heat. While it might look like fun it’s potentially very dangerous.’

The westbound section of the A14 at Bottisham was closed overnight for emergency repairs and had reopened by around 7am today, National Highways said.

A spokesman for National Highways said: ‘The road surface that was damaged yesterday was replaced overnight and while we continue to have these extremely high temperatures we have increased our monitoring on these older sections of road, which make up around 4 per cent of the total network, and we do not anticipate any further significant issues.

‘This was a failure in a section of older road which formerly had a concrete surface. To prolong the life of the road, and increase traction for vehicles using it, the concrete had been covered with a layer of asphalt.

‘In the extreme heat a cumulative effect has meant the temperature of the concrete under the asphalt has risen over recent days meaning sections have expanded and overwhelmed the tolerances (gaps) we allow for normal expansion.

‘These type of older road surfaces are more common in the east of England and we are currently investing £400million over the next three years to replace concrete roads and upgrade them to the higher standards we see across the majority of the strategic road network we operate.’

Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth told how it was ‘extraordinarily unusual’ to see temperatures in the 30Cs by the morning rush-hour in the UK.

She added: ‘We’re looking at the maximum temperatures somewhere between 40C to 41C, and that’s looking to be across the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire region.’

Forecaster Rachel Ayers added: ‘There are likely to be delays on roads, with road closures, as well as possible delays and cancellations to trains and maybe issues with air travel. This could pose a significant health risk to those stuck on services or roads during the heat.’

Figures published by location technology firm TomTom show the level of road congestion at 9am today was lower in several cities than at the same time last week.

In Birmingham, congestion levels fell from 48 per cent on July 12 to 32 per cent. In Bristol, congestion levels were down from 46 per cent to 42 per cent. In London, levels fell from 60 per cent to 44 per cent. In Manchester, it declined from 59 per cent to 44 per cent.

The data shows the proportion of extra time required for journeys compared with free-flow conditions.

Forecasters and NHS leaders have warned that thousands of people – even those who are fit and healthy – could die during the ‘ferocious’ heatwave, urging them to do ‘as little as possible’.

But in a furious backlash, senior Tory MPs claimed people were becoming ‘frightened of the heat’. Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘Great British common sense should be allowed to prevail’.

‘I long for the day when the Government stops acting like Nanny telling everyone what to do, every institution panicking and the BBC telling us we’re all going to die,’ he said yesterday.

‘If it’s very hot, just give people advice – wear a hat, wear sun lotion, drink a lot of liquid. If you go to Italy or France, they don’t just stop everything because it’s hot.’

Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense group of backbench Tory MPs, said we were entering ‘a cowardly new world where we live in a country where we are frightened of the heat’.

‘It is not surprising that in snowflake Britain, the snowflakes are melting,’ he added. ‘Thankfully, most of us are not snowflakes.’

Former Tory Health Minister Edwina Currie warned against ‘too much hectoring’. 

She called on the Government to promote ‘more positive messages’ in hot weather, such as going to work and school early in the morning and ‘having a siesta’ to stay out of the sun.

Former Northern Ireland First Minister Dame Arlene Foster branded the warnings ‘Government over-reach’, add-ing that ‘all of this started with Covid regulations’.

She told BBC Politics Live people now ‘expect the Government to tell them how to live their lives, which I think is absolutely wrong’.

Tory donor and Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins claimed the push to stay away from work due to hot weather risked damaging an already fragile economy.

‘The only reason they want to be at home is so they can sit in the sun,’ he told Jeremy Vine’s Channel 5 show. ‘It’s another excuse. Just go to work, get on with your job.

Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning

Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning

Sunseekers head into the water at Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as the extreme heat continues in England

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

People carry umbrellas to take cover from the sun during a heatwave at Trafalgar Square in London this afternoon

People carry umbrellas to take cover from the sun during a heatwave at Trafalgar Square in London this afternoon

A busy Bournemouth beach this morning as people enjoy the sunshine on what is set to be a record-breaking day

A busy Bournemouth beach this morning as people enjoy the sunshine on what is set to be a record-breaking day

People out enjoying the hot weather at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside this morning

People out enjoying the hot weather at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside this morning

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

A woman wears an umbrella hat on the beach at Southend-on-Sea in Essex this morning as the heatwave continues

A woman wears an umbrella hat on the beach at Southend-on-Sea in Essex this morning as the heatwave continues

Steller sea eagle Vraska cools down with keeper Johanna McQuade at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park today

Steller sea eagle Vraska cools down with keeper Johanna McQuade at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park today

Beachgoers make the best of the scorching morning temperatures at West Bay in Dorset today

Beachgoers make the best of the scorching morning temperatures at West Bay in Dorset today

A woman lays on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, today as Britons feel the heat on the hottest UK day on record

A woman lays on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, today as Britons feel the heat on the hottest UK day on record

Australian cabaret and circus troupe Briefs take to the water to attempt to cool themselves during a photocall for 'Bites' outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London today

Australian cabaret and circus troupe Briefs take to the water to attempt to cool themselves during a photocall for ‘Bites’ outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London today

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire - known as 'Blue Lagoon' - on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire – known as ‘Blue Lagoon’ – on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

People with their feet in a fountain at Trafalgar Square in central London today as the heatwave continues

People with their feet in a fountain at Trafalgar Square in central London today as the heatwave continues

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

People enjoy the hottest day of year at Stainforth Force in the Yorkshire Dales this afternoon as they cool off

People enjoy the hottest day of year at Stainforth Force in the Yorkshire Dales this afternoon as they cool off

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

Swimmers Tara Wight and Kate Whitaker in the sea at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh this morning amid the heatwave

Swimmers Tara Wight and Kate Whitaker in the sea at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh this morning amid the heatwave

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

A woman goes for a swim off Bournemouth beach today as people enjoy the water and sun on the Dorset coast

A woman goes for a swim off Bournemouth beach today as people enjoy the water and sun on the Dorset coast

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

People on Bournemouth beach this morning as Britons prepare for another very hot day across the country

People on Bournemouth beach this morning as Britons prepare for another very hot day across the country

Two women carry water across Bournemouth beach early this morning as sunseekers flock to the Dorset coast again

Two women carry water across Bournemouth beach early this morning as sunseekers flock to the Dorset coast again

People out enjoying the hot weather at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside this morning

People out enjoying the hot weather at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside this morning

A group of men go for a paddle early this morning at Bournemouth beach as sunseekers flock to the Dorset coast again

A group of men go for a paddle early this morning at Bournemouth beach as sunseekers flock to the Dorset coast again

Chippy the chimpanzee enjoying an ice treat at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park near Stirling this morning

Chippy the chimpanzee enjoying an ice treat at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park near Stirling this morning

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

People on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this morning as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire - known as 'Blue Lagoon' - on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire – known as ‘Blue Lagoon’ – on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

Commuters and joggers cross London Bridge this morning amid the extreme temperatures as the heatwave continues

Commuters and joggers cross London Bridge this morning amid the extreme temperatures as the heatwave continues

People rest on a bench at St James's Park in London today as temperatures soar again across England

People rest on a bench at St James’s Park in London today as temperatures soar again across England

People on Bournemouth beach this morning as Britons prepare for another very hot day across the country

People on Bournemouth beach this morning as Britons prepare for another very hot day across the country

The dried out bed and reduced water levels in the Thruscross Reservoir in North Yorkshire, pictured this morning

The dried out bed and reduced water levels in the Thruscross Reservoir in North Yorkshire, pictured this morning

Southend-on-Sea in Essex this morning

Southend-on-Sea in Essex this morning

A woman wears an umbrella hat on the beach at Southend-on-Sea in Essex this morning as the heatwave continues

People basking in the sun on Brighton beach today as temperatures soar across the country

People basking in the sun on Brighton beach today as temperatures soar across the country

A ambulance drives along the promenade in Bournemouth today on the hottest day on record in England

A ambulance drives along the promenade in Bournemouth today on the hottest day on record in England

Empty ice cream freezers at the Tesco Extra in Musselburgh, East Lothian, today as the UK endures the hottest day on record

Empty ice cream freezers at the Tesco Extra in Musselburgh, East Lothian, today as the UK endures the hottest day on record

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

A packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon on day two of the red extreme heat warning

A cyclist makes her way around Holyrood Park in Edinburgh today as the UK is braced to face the hottest day on record

A cyclist makes her way around Holyrood Park in Edinburgh today as the UK is braced to face the hottest day on record

People flock to the beach at Southend-on-Sea in Essex this morning as the heatwave continues

People flock to the beach at Southend-on-Sea in Essex this morning as the heatwave continues

A woman dips her head into the fountain to cool off at Trafalgar Square in London this morning amid the extreme heat

A woman dips her head into the fountain to cool off at Trafalgar Square in London this morning amid the extreme heat

A man sits in a chair on the beach in Bournemouth today as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

A man sits in a chair on the beach in Bournemouth today as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

Trains to London King's Cross from Edinburgh Waverley station are cancelled due to hot weather this morning

Trains to London King’s Cross from Edinburgh Waverley station are cancelled due to hot weather this morning

Wayoh Reservoir in Entwistle, Bolton, which is currently well below capacity, is pictured today

Wayoh Reservoir in Entwistle, Bolton, which is currently well below capacity, is pictured today

A woman rests on the grass at St James's Park in London today as temperatures soar again across England

A woman rests on the grass at St James’s Park in London today as temperatures soar again across England

‘If we put up with this, we’re going to open the floodgates for all the snowflakes. They’re not going to come to work, whether it’s too foggy, too wet, too rainy, windy, (or) storms are coming.’

Keep gadgets out of the sun to stop overheating 

Tech experts have urged smartphone users to keep their gadgets out of the sun during the heatwave to ensure they continue working properly.

Many gadgets can overheat in direct sunlight leaving them unable to function properly or be charged.

People are also being encouraged to take cases off phones, tablets and laptops to improve airflow around them and help a device’s ability to cool, and move other items such as WiFi routers to a place with plenty of airflow to ensure they do not overheat.

Some larger devices contain internal fans to aid cooling, meaning giving them some extra space to disperse that warm air can help lower their temperature.

According to the mobiles team at Uswitch.com, extreme temperatures can cause gadgets to stop working as well as doing lasting damage to the technology.

Uswitch advises people to consider adjusting some settings to reduce battery usage and how hard a phone has to work as a result, which can help reduce the device’s temperature and ensure it continues to work efficiently.

‘Playing with the settings on your laptop, smartphone or tablet can also be an effective way of preventing them from overheating,’ Uswitch says. ‘It’s usually the batteries in these devices that get hot, so tinkering to get the battery usage down is always helpful.

‘The higher the brightness, the more the battery gets used, so this is the first setting to get down as low as you can. ‘It might be a bit harder to see, but it will definitely help keep your device cool. Also, a lot of smartphones have adaptive screens. In which case, the brightness will automatically go up if you’re out in the sun, so turn this setting off.’

If a device such as a smartphone begins to overheat, many will show users a warning to tell them they need to cool the phone down.

A smartphone that is too hot may also not charge when plugged in as this can cause a further temperature rise.

But experts have warned gadget owners not to put their devices in a fridge or freezer in an effort to cool them down. Insurance provider So-Sure said doing so can be ‘very harmful’ as it means moisture could get into a device and cause significant damage.

Scotland and Northern Ireland also experienced their warmest days of the year so far yesterday with 31.3C (88.3F) recorded in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, and 31.1C (88F) in Derrylin, County Fermanagh.

After Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab urged the country to ‘enjoy the sunshine’ and be ‘resilient enough through some of the pressures it will place’, beaches were thronged yesterday. 

Members of the Household Cavalry have been using electric fans to help them cope with the rising temperatures in London.

Troops were looking red in the face and sweating while standing watch in their heavy ceremonial uniforms and helmets at Horse Guards Parade in Westminster, as the heatwave continued to hit the UK on Tuesday.

One could be seen stood in position with a large metal desk fan pointed towards him in a bid to keep him cool. Water was brought out to the horses of the mounted troops.

Meanwhile commuter numbers have plummeted across England – with a corresponding rise in visitor numbers to sea-side resorts.

It suggested that millions of people had heeded Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse, who said ‘this may be a moment to work from home’ – or taken the day off altogether.

Mr Malthouse updated the Cabinet on the impact of the heatwave during their meeting this morning.

A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster updated Cabinet on the impact of the heatwave. He said services had experienced some disruption but were generally coping well thanks to the hard work of frontline staff.’

After more than a dozen train firms advised passengers to travel only if it is ‘absolutely necessary’, Network Rail said the number using major stations across Britain yesterday was around 20 per cent down on the week before.

Rail tracks buckled in London’s Vauxhall in the heat – resulting in a safety inspection on the line that caused disruption between Waterloo and Clapham Junction. 

And operator Great Northern said a buckled rail at Watlington in Norfolk meant services could not run between Cambridge and Kings Lynn.

Transport for London, which has advised people to ‘only travel if essential’, said around 1.03 million entries and exits were made by London Underground passengers up to 10am today.

This is down 30 per cent compared with the same period last Tuesday, and also lower than yesterday’s figure of 1.06 million.

Some 1.04million bus journeys were made up to 10am, a decrease of 16 per cent week on week, and down from Monday’s figure of 1.07million.

Today, Mr Shapps said issues on the rails and roads will continue for decades during extreme heatwaves.

A seal colony on the beach at Horsey Gap on the Norfolk coast this afternoon

A seal colony on the beach at Horsey Gap on the Norfolk coast this afternoon

People on the beach in Bournemouth today as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

People on the beach in Bournemouth today as Britons melt on the hottest UK day on record

People sit next to the fountain at Trafalgar Square in central London today as the heatwave continues

People sit next to the fountain at Trafalgar Square in central London today as the heatwave continues

People sleep on deckchairs on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People sleep on deckchairs on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

A busy London Euston Station this morning amid mass travel disruption on the second day of the red weather warning

A busy London Euston Station this morning amid mass travel disruption on the second day of the red weather warning

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire - known as 'Blue Lagoon' - on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire – known as ‘Blue Lagoon’ – on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park today

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London’s Hyde Park today

The sun rises over Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, this morning on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far

The sun rises over Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, this morning on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far

A man sleeping at London Bridge railway station this morning as temperatures are set to climb to 40C today

A man sleeping at London Bridge railway station this morning as temperatures are set to climb to 40C today

Trains in sidings at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, as many services are cancelled amid mass rail disruption

Trains in sidings at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, as many services are cancelled amid mass rail disruption

Today, the Supreme Court in London was closed to visitors because of the heat and an air-conditioning fault

Today, the Supreme Court in London was closed to visitors because of the heat and an air-conditioning fault

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park today

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London’s Hyde Park today

A person wets their hair in a fountain at Trafalgar Square in central London this morning

A person wets their hair in a fountain at Trafalgar Square in central London this morning

Early morning swimmers and paddleboarders cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today

Early morning swimmers and paddleboarders cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today

The sun rises on a warm early morning over the countryside at Dunsden in Oxfordshire today

The sun rises on a warm early morning over the countryside at Dunsden in Oxfordshire today

Sun scorched grass seen on what is set to be the hottest day of the year so far at Blackheath in South East London today

Sun scorched grass seen on what is set to be the hottest day of the year so far at Blackheath in South East London today

Empty shelves at a Lidl store in Clevedon, Somerset, this morning as the UK is set for another day of hot weather

Empty shelves at a Lidl store in Clevedon, Somerset, this morning as the UK is set for another day of hot weather

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park today

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London’s Hyde Park today

People out enjoying the hot weather at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside today

People out enjoying the hot weather at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside today

A man drinks from a bottle of water on the Jubilee line this morning as commuters use the London Underground to get to work

A man drinks from a bottle of water on the Jubilee line this morning as commuters use the London Underground to get to work

Sunrise from Glastonbury Tor in Somerset this morning at the start of what could be the hottest day on record

Sunrise from Glastonbury Tor in Somerset this morning at the start of what could be the hottest day on record

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they wait for a train at London Bridge station

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they wait for a train at London Bridge station

Empty shelves in the water aisle of a Sainsbury's supermarket at Nine Elms in South West London this morning

Empty shelves in the water aisle of a Sainsbury’s supermarket at Nine Elms in South West London this morning

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Swimmers Tara Wight and Kate Whitaker in the sea at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh this morning amid the heatwave

Swimmers Tara Wight and Kate Whitaker in the sea at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh this morning amid the heatwave

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park today

People enjoy an early morning swim at the Serpentine Lido in London’s Hyde Park today

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire - known as 'Blue Lagoon' - on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

People at Harpur Hill Quarry in Derbyshire – known as ‘Blue Lagoon’ – on what is the hottest day on record in the UK

Asked how long it will take to upgrade existing rail infrastructure to be more resilient, he told Sky News: ‘Decades, actually, to replace it all. Ditto with Tarmac on the roads.

‘There’s a long process of replacing it and upgrading it to withstand temperatures, either very hot or sometimes much colder than we’ve been used to, and these are the impacts of global warming.’

Nine of UK’s 12 hottest days in last two decades 

Nine of the UK’s 12 hottest days on record since 1884 have occurred within the last two decades.

Tuesday’s provisional record high at Heathrow Airport of 40.2C means that four of the top five hottest days have taken place between 2019 and 2022.

Only one of top 12 hottest days took place before 1990.

Met Office figures show that spikes in the UK’s daily maximum temperature are becoming both more frequent and more recent. 

A similar trend is evident in figures showing the UK’s annual average maximum temperature. Seven of top 10 annual average maximum temperatures since 1884 have occurred since the start of this century, with 2020 ranking in fourth place and 2018 seventh.

The year 2014 currently holds the record for the highest average maximum temperature, while 1976, often recalled for its long summer heatwave, ranks 42nd.

Here is a list of the top 12 hottest UK days on record according to the Met Office, including Tuesday’s provisional figure of 40.2C.

1 July 19 2022, Heathrow Airport in London: 40.2C (provisional)

2 July 25 2019, Cambridge Botanic Gardens: 38.7C

3 August 10 2003, Faversham in Kent: 38.5C

4 July 18 2022, Santon Downham in Suffolk: 38.1C

5 July 31 2020, Heathrow Airport in London: 37.8C

6 August 3 1990, Cheltenham in Gloucestershire: 37.1C

7 July 1 2015, Heathrow Airport in London: 36.7C

8 August 9 1911, Raunds in Northamptonshire: 36.7C

9 August 2 1990, Worcester in Worcestershire: 36.6C

10 July 19 2006, Wisley in Surrey: 36.5C

=11 August 7 2020, Kew Gardens & Heathrow Airport in London: 36.4C

=11 August 6 2003, Gravesend in Kent, 36.4C

He said there was no Cobra meeting planned for today, with the Prime Minister instead chairing Cabinet.

Mr Shapps also insisted Boris Johnson has not checked out early from Number 10 after the Prime Minister was criticised for not playing a direct enough role in combating the heatwave. 

He told Sky News: ‘It’s literally not true, in fact exactly the opposite is the truth.’

Mr Shapps also conceded that the UK’s transport network cannot cope with the extreme heat.

He told BBC Breakfast: ‘We’ve seen a considerable amount of travel disruption, we’re probably going to see the hottest day ever in the UK recorded today and infrastructure, much of it built in Victorian times, just wasn’t built to withstand this type of temperature.

‘And it will be many years before we can replace infrastructure with the kind of infrastructure that could, because the temperatures are so extreme.’

Asked if the transport system can cope with the weather, he said: ‘The simple answer at the moment is no.

‘Where those tracks are 40C in the air, on the ground that could be 50C, 60C, 70C and more. 

‘So you get a severe danger of tracks buckling, what we can’t have is trains running over those and a terrible derailing.

‘We’ve got to be very cautious and conscious of that, which is why there’s reduced speeds on large parts of the network.’

Later, he said Britain must ‘keep ramping up the specification’ of its railways to cope with extreme temperatures.

He told the PA news agency: ‘We probably have the most resilient rail network we’ve ever built, ever had.

‘But because the spec (specification) has been minus 10 degrees to plus 35 degrees – and we’re now suffering 40 degrees plus – clearly we need to keep ramping up the specification.

‘But as new lines go in, as new overhead cables go in, all of that is now spec’d at a higher level than it would have been when those electric cables originally went in.

‘We need to drive up the standards. We’re going to see these events more frequently, and as a result we need to be ready.’

Predictions of long tailbacks as road surfaces melted in the heat also took effect, with location technology firm TomTom recording congestion at 9am down by up to 11 per cent in major UK cities.

Lincolnshire Police said road surface temperatures topping 50C caused parts of the A159 to melt.

Transport for London – which advised people to ‘only travel if essential’ – said Tube passenger numbers were down 18 per cent on the previous Monday.

Meanwhile bus journeys in the capital were down ten per cent week-on-week.

Council staff pick up an abandoned tent on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as the hot weather continues

Council staff pick up an abandoned tent on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as the hot weather continues

Two women walk along the sand at Bournemouth beach this morning as people arrive early at the Dorset coast

Two women walk along the sand at Bournemouth beach this morning as people arrive early at the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

People rest on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter pickers on Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter pickers on Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on deckchairs on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on deckchairs on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on deckchairs on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on deckchairs on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Retail analysts Springboard reported a similar fall in Central London footfall yesterday, with 11 per cent fewer peo-ple in regional cities – but a nine per cent boost in visitors to coastal towns.

Record heat brings Britain’s travel network to a halt: Three quarters of UK rail firms are running SLOWER trains as tracks hit 62C while Euston station lifts and Oxford Circus escalators break down in searing heat 

Three quarters of Britain’s rail firms are running slower trains today after tracks hit 62C (144F) – while the escalators at Euston and Oxford Circus in London broke down in the searing heat. 

A total of 21 train operators announced slower services to stop tracks buckling – with Network Rail warning travellers that train times could more than double due to speed restrictions. 

The lifts and escalators at Euston Station are out of action ‘due to overheating’, while the London Fire Brigade had to be called after smoke began pouring out of an escalator machine room at Oxford Circus due to the escalator pads began ‘overheating’. 

Meanwhile, a fire at Finchley Road in Central London has suspended service between Waterloo and Willesden Green and caused severe delays on the rest of the Jubilee Line.

 

Network Rail has issued a red ‘do not travel warning’ for services out of London, while hundreds of trains have been cancelled and other services subjected to reduced speeds after tracks buckled in the heat. The hottest railway track reached 62C (144F) yesterday at a spot in Suffolk, Network Rail said. 

One father travelling from Paddington to Penzance with his wife and two young daughters told MailOnline: ‘I just got on the GWR to Penzance and the conductor informed us the speed is limited to 60mph due to heat restrictions on the track, so it’s going to be a long trip.’ 

Today, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted the UK’s infrastructure ‘could not cope’ with the extreme weather – as the country braced for potential highs of 43C (109F) this afternoon. 

A section of the A14 dual carriageway in Cambridgeshire was left looking like a ‘skatepark’ after it warped in the heatwave yesterday, police said. Meanwhile, a section of the A114 in Leytonstone, east London, had to be partially closed after the verge caught fire. 

The RAC has warned motorists who may be driving to work that the number of vehicle breakdowns today could be a fifth higher than usual.  

Road congestion in several cities was down on last week, TomTom figures showed, as people avoided travelling in the heat.

In Birmingham, congestion levels fell from 48 per cent on July 12 to 32 per cent, while in Manchester they decreased from 59 per cent to 44 per cent. 

Runways at Luton Airport and RAF Brize Norton were impacted by the heat yesterday – forcing aircraft to divert. Brize Norton will remain closed today before an inspection tomorrow, it is understood.  

‘People are clearly working at home today as advised,’ said the firm’s insights director, Diane Wehrle.

A number of small shops around the country closed early for the day or have closed completely until tomorrow. These included several groups of charity shops, while hairdressers, cafes and chip shops put up the closed signs.

In Durham, Woofs and Cuts dog groomers shut because it was ‘unsafe for any dogs to be in the hot conditions and for the journey to the appointment’.

At Wapping Wharf, Bristol, fashion and gift shop Frankly explained: ‘Our shop is in a metal box and it gets VERY hot in there.’ 

But the British Retail Consortium said major chains tend to have air conditioning, which protects staff and shoppers.

There were 90,592 visits to the heat exhaustion and heatstroke section of the NHS website yesterday, as temperatures soared, equivalent to around 63 visits every minute.

In total there have been 284,772 visits to the web page over the past seven days from July 12-18, NHS Digital said.

Interim deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin, said the heatwave was impacting urgent and emergency care and some planned care.

She said: ‘Across the country we are seeing hospitals having to scale back the number of planned surgeries as operating theatres are too hot.

‘Trusts are having to install industrial cooling units, mounting fans, and trying to cool down IT server rooms.’

She said staff have swapped formal uniforms for cooler scrubs, while in some places those who are not frontline workers have been given the option to work from home, and hospital kitchens are making ice lollies for staff and patients.

‘Trusts are checking in with their vulnerable patients to make sure they have ample amounts of water and plans in place to stay cool.

‘Many services have reviewed their clinical activities to assess whether appointments or group activities should be cancelled or moved virtually, particularly in community and mental health services.’

And discharge teams were considering the heat to make sure patients, carers, community hospitals and care homes have water supplies before being discharged, and the amount of time patients spend in a car or ambulance is reduced, she said.

Meanwhile several ambulance trusts reported normal call volumes for a Monday as NHS medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis insisted ‘the overwhelming majority of NHS services are continuing to run’.

And Brian Jordan, director of 999 operations for London Ambulance Service, said the service saw a slight increase in calls for fainting and heat exposure. 

The service received 6,600 emergency calls yesterday, which was actually slightly lower than predicted.

‘We really hope that’s because the public really have been listened to the messages about how they can look after themselves and only call 999 if it’s a genuine emergency,’ Mr Jordan told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning.

‘People have been through a very long day yesterday and there’s been high temperatures overnight and with the even hotter temperatures today, I cannot really emphasise enough that people need to continue to do what we were asking them yesterday – to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, keep hydrated, look after more vulnerable friends, families, neighbours and use sun cream etc.’

He added: ‘As yesterday afternoon progressed we saw a slight increase in the rates of fainting and heat exposure’.

Mr Jordan said that the service expected to see a ‘build-up of illness due to the continued heat overnight and even higher temperatures coming today… it’s just about making sure that even after the peak temperatures, everyone continues to follow that advice’.

Ambulances were not waiting outside of hospitals any longer than usual on Monday, he added.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said the service has detailed plans in place for dealing with the extreme hot weather.

He added: ‘We have seen above-average call numbers since Monday afternoon. Demand on our service is very high and, even when the temperatures drop, we expect to still being seeing an impact from heat-related illnesses into the weekend.

‘We continue to ask the public to help us, as their actions can help manage rapid increases in the number of people calling for an ambulance.

‘Please continue to follow guidance during this period of hot weather and only call 999 in life-threatening emergencies.’

Flights were suspended at London Luton Airport for around two hours before engineers managed to repair what was described as a ‘surface defect’ on the runway.

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

People rest on chairs on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on chairs on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

Litter strewn across Bournemouth beach early this morning after sunseekers flocked to the Dorset coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

People rest on the sand on Bournemouth beach this morning ahead of another very hot day at the coast

Activity was also halted at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, with Sky News reporting that part of the runway had melted.

Heatwave could lead to devastating wildfires 

Experts are worried about the possibility of major wildfires tearing through the countryside as temperatures threaten to soar as high as 40C.

Wildlife would be ‘devastated’ by such a blaze, with one expert suggesting Britain could face conditions similar to those taking hold in southern Europe.

Lickey Hills parkland in Birmingham today after a huge fire

Lickey Hills parkland in Birmingham today after a huge fire

Patches of England were at ‘exceptional risk’ of wildfires on Monday, the Met Office said, with an alert spreading to most of the country for Tuesday.

‘I haven’t even seen the exceptional category being used in the times I’ve looked at the Wildfire Index before,’ Kathryn Brown, the Wildlife Trust’s director for climate action, said. ‘In southern Europe, we’re seeing these stories of these horrendous wildfires taking hold all over the place and these are the conditions that we’re going to be more prone to. We need to be much more aware, and the public needs to be much more aware, of the wildfire risk.’

Blazes across France, Spain, Portugal and Greece have levelled thousands of acres of land and forced the evacuation of locals and holidaymakers.

The National Trust has warned against lighting barbecues or campfires in open countryside and dropping litter such as glass bottles.

Crews at a grass fire last night in Ravenswood, Suffolk

Crews at a grass fire last night in Ravenswood, Suffolk

‘We’re on tenterhooks that someone is careless with a cigarette butt or thoughtless by lighting barbecues and us having to deal with a wildfire,’ the charity’s conservation head Ben McCarthy said. ‘They destroy the habitat they rip through and also all the animals and plants that occur there and make up those habitats. At the Marsden Moor (in West Yorkshire) fire back in 2019, when we surveyed the site after the flames had been extinguished, we saw lots of burnt-out reptiles and amphibians, burnt-out nests.’

Rainfall has been scarce recently, with less than 1mm recorded in the north east and north west between July 6 and 12, with none across the rest of England.

A fire service photo of a grass fire in Rixton, Warrington, today

A fire service photo of a grass fire in Rixton, Warrington, today

Along with making wildfires more likely, the RSPB is worried about the harm to bird populations over the next couple of days. ‘The birds that we see in our own gardens will really struggle because we’ve lost many natural sources of water over the past century,’ the charity’s Anna Feeney said. ‘A lot of ponds and wetlands have been drained for various reasons on farmland or just out on the wider landscape.’

She urged homeowners to put out basins of water so birds can drink and clean themselves.

Fish are also at risk, the Environment Agency said, with the heat triggering deadly algal blooms which reduce oxygen levels in streams and ponds. Anyone who finds distressed fish should avoid moving them and report them to an incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

It is understood RAF Brize Norton will remain closed today. An inspection and assessment is due to be carried out later and again tomorrow morning.

It was announced yesterday that flying activity was halted at the RAF base in Oxfordshire ‘during this period of extreme temperature’ and that aircraft would be using alternative airfields.

There are also warnings of wildfires, with people warned not to use barbecues or leave litter that could spark fires in the countryside. 

A dramatic aerial photographs showed a huge area of farmland near Chesterfield in Derbyshire left charred and blackened by a fierce blaze.

Zoos and wildlife parks closed to protect animals, staff and visitors.

And Royal Mail warned there could be disruption to post deliveries, saying in a statement: ‘In areas where tem-peratures rise to potentially dangerous levels during the day, our staff have been advised to return to the office with any mail they have been unable to deliver and not put themselves under any risk of falling ill due to the extreme heat. The safety of our staff is paramount during this time.’

Water companies also said they were experiencing ‘unprecedented peak demand’, with people encouraged to ‘carefully consider’ their water usage and urged not to waste it.

Met Office chief executive Professor Penelope Endersby said a summer drought was a real threat after the first half of 2022 was drier than average.

Thames Water’s demand reduction manager, Andrew Tucker, admitted the firm was getting through water sup-plies ‘faster than we would like’.

While no restrictions are currently planned, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the situation ‘may change’ if the weather remains dry.

Meanwhile it has emerged some Severn Trent staff were been attacked with stones while trying to fix water hydrants in Coventry over the weekend following reports of issues with local water supply.

It came after people were tampering with hydrants so they could play in the water – and when a team arrived to resolve the problem, some disgruntled residents were said to have thrown stones at them. One of the stones bounced off a Severn Trent van and broke the window of another vehicle, reported Coventry Live.

Elsewhere, council gritters were on stand-by to spread light dustings of sand on melting roads.

The RAC anticipated that the number of vehicle breakdowns on Monday and Tuesday could be up to a fifth higher than normal.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has a high pollution alert in place in the eastern parts of England and the East Midlands, meaning EU ozone pollution thresholds have been exceeded.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden recorded its peak temperature for yesterday as 38C (100.4F), lower than the current UK heat record of 38.7C (101.7F) that was set there in 2019. The attraction said that the high was reached at 3.38pm yesterday.

Speaking before readings for the previous 24-hour period were taken, at 10am today, the attraction’s director Professor Beverley Glover said she had hoped the record would not be broken.

‘Recording these high UK temperatures services is a serious reminder that we all need to be taking climate change and its impacts seriously,’ she said. Peak temperatures for today will be confirmed at 10am tomorrow.

It comes as a 14-year-old boy is missing and believed to have drowned yesterday afternoon after getting into difficulty in the Thames in Richmond, west London.

The teenager was seen entering the water at Tagg’s Island in Hampton and, after a search took place, he was presumed dead, with officers calling the incident a ‘tragedy’.

Emergency services and the Government have reiterated urgent warnings about the dangers of trying to keep cool after several tragedies in waterways and reservoirs during the heatwave.

It came as the family of 13-year-old Robert Hattersley said they were ‘absolutely devastated’ after he died when he got into trouble in the River Tyne in Northumberland on Sunday.

Emergency services also confirmed the deaths of a 16-year-old boy in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, a 16-year-old boy in Bray Lake near Maidenhead, Berkshire, and a 50-year-old man in a reservoir near Leeds in similar circumstances.

Extra police patrols will be brought in at a Lancashire quarry today following reports more than 400 people gathered there yesterday.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said the patrols would be at Jamestone Quarry in Haslingden today, along with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service officers who would be diverting people away and giving water safety messaging.

More than 25 fixed-penalty notices were handed out yesterday to vehicles blocking traffic near the quarry, the force said.

Sergeant Craig Leech, from Rossendale Neighbourhood Policing team, said: ‘We know that people may not agree with us, but two teenagers have died in the North West in the last two weeks.

‘So we can keep people safe, patrols will be increased in warmer weather between ourselves in neighbourhood and TacOps and we will be taking action to try and stop another death from happening – even if it’s an unpopular opinion – we ask residents and visitors to not take the risk.

‘One dip in the water could cost you, or your child, their life and it is not worth it.’

Siobhan Murphy, a lifeguard supervisor in Sefton, Merseyside, said they have been ‘extremely busy’ in recent days and advised people not to swim anywhere apart from beaches where lifeguards are present.

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Sun scorched grass seen on what is set to be the hottest day of the year so far at Blackheath in South East London today

Sun scorched grass seen on what is set to be the hottest day of the year so far at Blackheath in South East London today

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Trains in sidings at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, as many services are cancelled amid mass rail disruption

Trains in sidings at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, as many services are cancelled amid mass rail disruption

Early morning paddleboarders at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Early morning paddleboarders at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

A temperature of more than 30C is recorded on the Jubilee line in London this morning as commuters travel to work

A temperature of more than 30C is recorded on the Jubilee line in London this morning as commuters travel to work

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters and joggers cross London Bridge this morning amid the extreme temperatures as the heatwave continues

Commuters and joggers cross London Bridge this morning amid the extreme temperatures as the heatwave continues

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

The skyline of the City of London during sunrise this morning amid what is set to be the hottest UK day on record

The skyline of the City of London during sunrise this morning amid what is set to be the hottest UK day on record

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Commuters struggle in the extreme heat this morning as they cross London Bridge on the way to work

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Speaking at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, she said: ‘We recommend that you always go to a lifeguarded beach. The lifeguards are there to keep you safe, and we recommend that you swim between the red and yellow flags.

‘It’s the safest place to swim, there are no hazards there and the lifeguards are always watching that area.’

Hazards include a fast incoming tide and cold water shock which can affect swimmers of all abilities, she said.

She added: ‘Around the UK the water is always cold, no matter how warm it is outside, like on a day like today, so we recommend that if you do fall into cold water that you float on your back like a starfish and allow that cold water shock to pass. It has been proven to save lives.’

There have been warnings of pressures on hospitals from the extreme temperatures, and concerns ambulance services would face rising numbers of calls as the heat peaks on Tuesday afternoon.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a level 4 heat-health alert – described as an ’emergency’ – and the UK is under its first red extreme heat warning for a large part of England, issued by the Met Office.

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

A near-empty ice cream freezer at a Lidl store in Clevedon, Somerset, today as the UK is set for another day of hot weather

A near-empty ice cream freezer at a Lidl store in Clevedon, Somerset, today as the UK is set for another day of hot weather

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Early morning swimmers cool off at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset today at the start of an exceptionally hot day

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Sun scorched grass seen on what is set to be the hottest day of the year so far at Blackheath in South East London today

Sun scorched grass seen on what is set to be the hottest day of the year so far at Blackheath in South East London today

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they wait for a train at London Bridge station

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they wait for a train at London Bridge station

The sun rises on a warm early morning over the countryside at Dunsden in Oxfordshire today

The sun rises on a warm early morning over the countryside at Dunsden in Oxfordshire today

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters wait for the doors to close on board the sweltering Jubilee line this morning on the London Underground

Commuters wait for the doors to close on board the sweltering Jubilee line this morning on the London Underground

The sun rises behind the Canary Wharf skyline in East London today on what is set to be the hottest UK day on record

The sun rises behind the Canary Wharf skyline in East London today on what is set to be the hottest UK day on record

The sun rises over blades of grass in London today as Britons are set to melt on the hottest UK day on record

The sun rises over blades of grass in London today as Britons are set to melt on the hottest UK day on record

The sun rises over the Canary Wharf skyline in East London today as  Britons are set to melt on the hottest UK day on record

The sun rises over the Canary Wharf skyline in East London today as  Britons are set to melt on the hottest UK day on record

The sun rises from behind an apartment block in East London today amid what is set to be the hottest UK day on record

The sun rises from behind an apartment block in East London today amid what is set to be the hottest UK day on record

The Met Office has issued a thunderstorm warning for between 1pm and 9pm tomorrow across the South East of England

The Met Office has issued a thunderstorm warning for between 1pm and 9pm tomorrow across the South East of England

Britons have been urged to stay inside during the hottest period of the day, between 11am and 4pm, and wear sun cream, a hat, stay in the shade and keep hydrated with water – and there are warnings about swimming in lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

Parents in despair as hundreds of schools close at short notice 

By Eleanor Harding and Sarah Harris for the Daily Mail

Parents have condemned the closure of hundreds of schools as teachers admitted they ‘can’t expect much learning’ during the heatwave.

Some children were forced back into remote learning yesterday, while at schools that stayed open trips, sports days and even detentions were axed.

Heads claimed the move was needed for ‘safety’ but campaigners said it risked turning pupils into ‘snowflakes’.

A total of 171 school closures were reported in a dozen council areas yesterday, but the true scale across the country is expected to be many times higher than this figure.

Full or partial closures included 53 schools in Buckinghamshire, 17 in Cambridgeshire, 30 in Oxfordshire and 40 in Worcestershire.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, told Sky News: ‘In some of the schools it might mean closing a classroom, in some of the schools it might mean closing early. We can’t expect much learning to go on in this sort of heat.’

Last night Robert Halfon, chairman of the Commons education committee, called on schools to ‘do everything possible’ to keep classrooms cool enough to prevent closures. 

He cited damage to education during pandemic closures and said that ‘if they have to shut, they should reopen two days early in the autumn term so the kids can catch up’.

Molly Kingsley, of parent group UsForThem, said: ‘There is simply no bandwidth for children to miss yet more school and, given the timing, it also means that for a third year in a row our youngsters are likely to be missing end-of-year trips and rites of passage.’

Former Government adviser Chris McGovern said: ‘This hot spell is a chance for children and schools to demonstrate resilience by learning coping strategies. Closing early because of warm weather sends a message… that it is best to seek an easy way out.’

Parents also criticised the closures online, with one angry father in Leeds complaining: ‘Everyone wetting themselves about a bit of heat. Daughter’s school closed now. How do they manage in Greece and Spain?’

The Department for Education said it had ‘not advised schools to shut’ and heads were responsible for ‘local circumstances’.

While the extreme heat will continue today, a band of rain will bring an end to the sweltering conditions tomorrow.

But Met Office meteorologist Luke Miall said: ‘I’ve been a qualified meteorologist for ten years, and telling people about 41C in the UK doesn’t seem real.’

In Scotland, Holyrood minister Keith Brown urged people ‘to think about whether they need to travel and, if they do, make sure they’re properly equipped and plan their journey in advance’.

The rising temperatures have brought disruption to parts of Scotland’s transport system, with overhead wires tripping and resetting due to the heat between Glasgow Queen Street Low Level and Hyndland.

Mr Brown, Justice Secretary and lead minister for resilience at Holyrood, said the Scottish Government is ‘receiving regular updates from partners including Transport Scotland, the Met Office, the NHS and emergency services and we’ll continue to closely monitor developments’.

‘When temperatures increase, it’s important to monitor forecasts and follow public health advice, including staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding excess alcohol,’ he said.

‘People should also look out for vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, as older people, those with underlying conditions and those living alone may struggle to keep cool and hydrated.’

Scottish Water has asked people to be as efficient with their water as possible, and urged them to use watering cans rather than hoses in gardens, not to fill up paddling pools and to take shorter showers.

The request came after the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency issued a water scarcity warning on Sunday.

It said in the east of Scotland, areas such as the Dee, Firth of Forth, Almond and Tyne catchment areas have been raised to moderate scarcity, which means businesses that extract water from the areas should do so only ‘if absolutely necessary’.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has warned that the wildfire risk in southern and eastern parts of Scotland has risen to ‘very high’.

It said that, in prolonged periods of high temperatures, the risk of wildfires breaking out increases.

SFRS Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Bruce Farquharson said: ‘At this time of year, the ground vegetation is a combination of green growth, with a relatively high moisture content, and dead vegetation lying on top, which can easily ignite and spread quickly over a large area.’

He added: ‘During the next few days, I would urge the public to avoid lighting fires outdoors but, if you must, check for restrictions or permissions required by the landowner and make sure you use a fire safe pit or container that can be properly extinguished before you leave.

‘We need people to be aware of how quickly things can get out of hand – the smallest outdoor ignition can spread rapidly and burn for days. Therefore, we are asking people to act responsibly when enjoying the outdoors and please think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.’

Meanwhile sales of fans, ice cream, paddling pools and burgers rocketed as the heatwave sparked a spending spree on summer essentials.

Waitrose has had its biggest week for ice creams, with sales up 36 per cent year on year, while John Lewis’s sales of fans and air conditioning units are up 709 per cent year on year.

Asda sold at least 4.5 million sausages and 1.4 million burgers last week, while charcoal sales increased by 400 per cent.

Sales of ready-to-drink spirits in Asda were up 72 per cent compared to an average week, while fan sales increased by 1,300 per cent.

Asda said its paddling pool range saw sales increase by 1,000 per cent compared to the same time the previous week.

Waitrose said sales of premium ice cream are up 45 per cent year-on-year.

Joe Sharkey, ice cream buyer for Waitrose, said: ‘Our ice creams and lollies are continuing to fly off the shelves, as our customers are looking for ways to keep cool.

‘We’ve had our biggest week of ice cream sales ever last week, with sales up by 36 per cent compared to last year – and we’ve still got good availability to help customers beat the heat.’

Elsewhere, Hotel Chocolat co-founder and chief executive Angus Thirlwell said that online chocolate deliveries are suspended.

Mr Thirlwell said: ‘It’s not great weather for a chocolate maker.’

He added: ‘It’s typical to suspend chocolate deliveries within the online business when there’s excessive heat. There’s no point in sending them if they’re just going to melt.’

According to the Met Office, the entire stock of a Liverpool chocolate factory melted during a hot spell in August 1990.

Meanwhile, the increased heat has not impacted on berry production too negatively, with growers able to meet the demand.

Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, said: ‘Generally, yields will be a bit lower as berries ripen faster and don’t quite make the same size as if the berries were left to grow longer.

‘However, the fast ripening creates a flush of crop which, if the good weather is maintained for a few days, which it has, then this meets an increased consumer demand.

‘Usually, if the sun is shining then we see more Brits buying berries, outdoor entertaining, summer desserts etc, are all good berry buying occasions.’

Residents ‘relieved’ as Cornwall is hit by lightning and showers amid heatwave 

Thunder, lightning and downpours were met with relief by Cornwall residents as temperatures surged across the rest of the UK.

As temperatures passed 40C for the first time in the UK, storms cooled Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with the Met Office forecasting temperatures in the low 20s in Penzance today.

Lucy McRobert, communications manager for the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, said she first heard the ‘rumblings’ of thunder and lightning at around 5.30am.

A couple shelter from the rain while they change after an early morning sea swim at Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth today

A couple shelter from the rain while they change after an early morning sea swim at Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth today

‘(It peaked) between 6.30 and 7am (and was) tracking up from the Bay of Biscay through the night,’ the 31-year-old said. ‘I don’t think we’ve ever been so relieved to see the sky go black and the rain start pouring.’

Ms McRobert added that the area’s wildlife and community are dependent on the rain and some species have been struggling. ‘Our heathland habitats, our freshwater pools and most importantly our farmland will all be feeling very grateful,’ she said.

The Met Office reported a high of 34.2C in Cornwall yesterday, but Will James, 40, an associate director from Redruth, said the thunder was ‘certainly not a surprise’.

‘I’ve learnt to always expect the unexpected in Cornwall. And to take forecasts with a pinch of salt,’ the 40-year-old said.

A couple cover the heads in the rain following an early morning sea swim at Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth today

A couple cover the heads in the rain following an early morning sea swim at Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth today 

Mr James tweeted two photos of the view from Redruth towards the hills of Four Lanes and Carn Brea, taken around an hour and a half apart, showing how quickly the weather changed.

The first photo, taken at roughly 8.10am, showed a bolt of lightning coming from thick clouds, while the other, taken at 9.30am, was of a mostly blue sky.

‘That’s Cornwall weather for you,’ said Mr James. ‘It feels a lot fresher and less muggy now after the storms. It’s nice to know I won’t have to water the plants now.’

Other regions in Cornwall that experienced thunder and lightning included The Lizard peninsula, in the south, and Mount’s Bay, Penzance, and many social media users shared footage of forked lightning striking off the coast.

Twitter user @GoodbyJeff jokingly posted: ‘So how’s the #deathwave #Heatwave2022 going for us in Sunny Cornwall this morning?’

 

Police smash window of £25,000 electric Hyundai to save dog trapped inside: Officers break into car in Leicester Square as they freed three pets in separate incidents across London during 38C heatwave

  • Exasperated officers have doubled down on warnings to dog owners today
  • Footage showed police smashing the window of vehicle in Leicester Square
  • Officers also vented fury after a dog left trapped outside RAF Museum, Hendon
  • And police were also called to dog locked inside a vehicle at Battersea Park

By Jamie Phillips For MailOnline

Police smashed the window of a £25,000 electric Hyundai to save a dog trapped in sweltering conditions inside – as officers say they freed three pets in separate incidents across London. 

Exasperated officers have today doubled down on warnings to the public after they were forced to break into the vehicles during the heatwave yesterday, urging owners to avoid taking pets out in the heat.

In one such incident yesterday, footage showed officers having to intervene after a member of the public spotted a trapped dog inside a Hyundai on Oxendon Street.

Concerned bystanders alerted had earlier alerted police and were informed that, if the dog was still panting in the next five to ten minutes, they could smash the window.

But officers arrived within minutes, attempting to use batons and a hammer to break the glass before resorting to a car window breaker to get inside the vehicle.

John Thompson, 35, spotted the dog along with other bystanders and caught the moment police arrived to free the animal. 

He said: ‘I was just immediately scared for the dog and thought ‘come on, it’s the hottest day of the year’. 

‘The dog was panting on the passenger seat and then moved down to where the pedals are because it was cooler at the bottom.’

Mr Thompson added: ‘Two people from the theatre next to the car had spotted it as well and somebody else in a van said they had been watching it for about ten minutes.

‘One of the people from the theatre called 999 and the call handler said if it was still there and panting in the next five to ten minutes then they could smash the window.

‘They went back into the theatre and came back with a hammer and by that point it had been fifteen minutes – someone said it takes fifteen minutes for a dog to succumb to heatstroke.

‘They were just about to smash the glass when the police turned up – they checked the air con which wasn’t on and then tried to smash it with a baton and the hammer which just bounced off but after using a little glass breaker it smashed immediately.

Police were forced to smash a car window in central London to save a dog amid scorching heat in central London

Police were forced to smash a car window in central London to save a dog amid scorching heat in central London

An officer stands inside the driver's door of the car with glass shattered over the pavement after having to break inside

An officer stands inside the driver’s door of the car with glass shattered over the pavement after having to break inside

The dog was seen by members of the public sitting on the front passenger seat amid the heatwave

The dog was seen by members of the public sitting on the front passenger seat amid the heatwave

Police smashed the window of a car in Leicester Square, central London, to rescue a dog from the heat yesterday

Police smashed the window of a car in Leicester Square, central London, to rescue a dog from the heat yesterday

The footage showed officers speaking to what appeared to be the pet's owners, with glass scattered across the pavement

The footage showed officers speaking to what appeared to be the pet’s owners, with glass scattered across the pavement

The dog was rescued from the car, allegedly after an hour inside, and given a small tub of water to drink from

The dog was rescued from the car, allegedly after an hour inside, and given a small tub of water to drink from

Police were also called to reports of a dog being locked inside of a vehicle at a car park at Battersea Park

Police were also called to reports of a dog being locked inside of a vehicle at a car park at Battersea Park

‘The owner turned up. They argued back and forth for ten minutes or so until the police took the dog and put it in the back of their car with the air-con on.

‘The woman was really upset because she thought they were taking the dog but the police returned the dog and they left in their car with one window smashed.’

A spokesperson for The Metropolitan Police said: ‘At 6.16pm on Monday police were alerted by a concerned member of the public to a dog inside a car with the windows closed in Oxendon Street, SW1.

‘The dog, which had allegedly been in the car for some time, appeared to be suffering in the heat.

‘Officers attended and broke a window to gain entry to the dog and the owners of the car were spoken to and their details taken.

‘The dog appeared in good health once it had been released from the car.’

Elsewhere, officers took to Twitter to vent their fury when they had to smash their way into a car parked outside the RAF Museum in Hendon, north London, after another dog was left trapped inside.

The exterior temperature at the time of the rescue was 31.5C.

Barnet MPS tweeted: ‘Unbelievably, our officers have just had to smash the window of a vehicle to get a dog out at the RAF museum Hendon. 31.5 degrees!

‘JUST DON’T TAKE DOGS OUT IN THIS HEAT.’

And police were also called to reports of a dog being locked inside of a vehicle at a car park at Battersea Park yesterday.

Members of the public called 999 after the pooch was spotted inside a black Mercedes minivan without any of its window open, MyLondon reports.

Witnesses said nobody claimed the car as their own and the dog had been inside for around an hour before police took the decision to smash their way inside.

The dog was eventually reunited with its owners around two hours later. 

RSPCA guidance states that dogs should never be left in ‘hot cars, conservatories, outbuildings or caravans on a warm day’.

It adds that temperatures of 22C outside can ‘quickly rise to 47C’, which can be fatal for dogs’.

Temperatures peaked in the UK at 38.1C (100.6F) in Suffolk yesterday, making it the hottest day of 2022 and the third hottest on record, after 38.7C (101.7F) in Cambridge in July 2019 and 38.5C (101.3F) in Kent in August 2003. 

It means temperatures, particularly inside vehicles, will have soared to dangerous levels.

The RSPCA adds: ‘If the dog’s condition is critical, and the police haven’t arrived yet, your instinct will be to break into the car to free them. 

‘But please be aware that this could be classed as criminal damage. You may need to defend your actions in court, so please be sure you’re doing the right thing. 

‘Legally, you can commit damage if you believe the car owner would consent to it if they knew the dog was in danger.

‘If you’re sure you need to free the dog, tell the police what you intend to do and why. Take photos or videos of the dog. Are there any other witnesses? Take their names and telephone numbers.’

Why IS it so hot today? Warmest day in Britain’s history is driven by a combination of climate change, Saharan desert air and the ‘Azores High’ pressure system pushing up from the south

  • UK is enduring its hottest day in history today, with temperatures soaring past 40C (104F) in parts of country
  • Experts, including those at the Met Office, have revealed why Britain is in the midst of a sweltering heatwave
  • They say it is partly down to winds blowing hot air up from north Africa and Sahara and a high pressure system
  • But it is also due to climate change and the ‘Azores High’ subtropical pressure system creeping further north

ByMark Duell for MailOnlineand James Tozerand Richard Marsdenand Eleanor Harding for the Daily Mail

Britain is experiencing its hottest day in history today — with temperatures soaring past 40C (104F) — so why are we seeing such ferocious heat and is climate change to blame?

Yes is the short answer, according to a plethora of climate scientists and the Met Office.

Experts also say it is due to winds blowing a plume of hot air up from north Africa and the Sahara, as well as the ‘Azores High’ subtropical pressure system creeping further north, as a result of global warming.

Wildfires even broke out across southern England today, amid growing rail travel chaos as schools shut again in the extreme heat.

The mercury hit an unprecedented 40.2C (104.4F) at Heathrow Airport at 12.50pm — around an hour after a reading of 39.1C (102.4F) in Charlwood, Surrey, beat the previous all-time UK high of 38.7C (101.7F) in Cambridge in July 2019. In third place is 38.5C (101.3F) in Kent in August 2003, and 38.1C (100.6F) in Suffolk yesterday is fourth.

Part of the reason behind the hot weather is that a pressure system called the Azores High, which usually sits off Spain, has grown larger and is being pushed northwards.

This has brought scorching temperatures to the UK, France and the Iberian peninsula.

The high pressure near the southern half of Britain, which has been responsible for the recent warm weather, is also continuing to dominate overhead.

When this develops it triggers heatwaves, which can also bring so-called ‘tropical nights’ — when night-time temperatures fail to drop below 68°F (20°C).

These heatwaves are becoming more likely and more intense because of climate change. 

Meanwhile, winds turned southerly at the end of last week, bringing hot air up from north Africa and the Sahara and allowing the UK to tap into some of the 113°F (45°C) heat from Spain and France.

Maximum temperatures of at least 40C are expected in England this afternoon - but could rise even further to as high as 43C

Maximum temperatures of at least 40C are expected in England this afternoon – but could rise even further to as high as 43C

Firefighters attend a blaze on Dartford Marshes in Kent today after temperatures reached 40C for the first time on record

Firefighters attend a blaze on Dartford Marshes in Kent today after temperatures reached 40C for the first time on record

The Azores High usually sits to the south but is currently directly over the UK and Ireland, stretching from the Azores Islands

The Azores High usually sits to the south but is currently directly over the UK and Ireland, stretching from the Azores Islands 

WHAT ARE THE MAIN AIR MASSES SWIRLING ABOVE BRITAIN?

There are five main air masses above Britain, along with a sixth one that is a variation of one of them.

The UK is more likely to get maritime air masses because our weather primarily comes from the west. The reason for this is because of the direction the Earth spins, leading us to experience prevailing westerly winds.

Although Britain does get air masses arriving from the east, too, they’re not as common, forecasters say. 

Polar Maritime

Arriving from Greenland and the Arctic Sea, it brings wet and cold air that leads to chilly and showery weather. 

Arctic Maritime

As its name suggests, this air mass comes from the Arctic. It brings with it wet and cold air that causes snowfall in the winter.

Polar Continental

When the Beast from the East struck Britain in 2018, the bone-chilling air was Polar Continental and came from Siberia. It brings hot air in the summer and cold in the winter, leading to dry summers and snowy winters.

Tropical Continental

Everybody’s favourite summer air mass, the Tropical Continental is what gives us heatwaves and bags of sunshine. The air is hot and dry and comes from North Africa. 

Tropical Maritime

Arriving from the Atlantic Ocean, this warm and moist air brings cloud, rain and mild temperatures to the UK. 

Returning Polar Maritime

The returning Polar Maritime is a variation of the Polar Maritime. 

However, it takes the air first southwards over the north Atlantic, then north-eastwards across the UK.

During its passage south, the air becomes unstable and moist but on moving north-east it passes over cooler water, making it more stable.

It brings largely dry weather and cloud. 

This Tropical Continental air mass is one of five that battle for supremacy over Britain and is what gives us heatwaves and bags of sunshine.

Professor Hannah Cloke, natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading, said the intensity of heat ‘is enough to kill people and animals, damage property, and hobble the economy.’ 

Dr Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, said: ‘The highest temperatures experienced in the UK tend to occur when our weather is influenced by air masses from continental Europe or North Africa.

‘There is already a strongly-embedded warming due to climate change across the continent, that is increasing the likelihood of challenging the existing UK temperature record.’

The ‘Azores High’, which is undergoing ‘unprecedented’ changes, is also a big contributor to the current hot weather in Britain. 

A new study suggests the atmospheric high-pressure system is being driven by climate change and already causing droughts in parts of Portugal and Spain. 

The Azores High rotates clockwise over parts of the North Atlantic and has a major effect on weather and long-term climate trends in western Europe.

Researchers say this system ‘has changed dramatically in the past century and that these changes in North Atlantic climate are unprecedented within the past millennium’. 

Using climate model simulations over the last 1,200 years, experts from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that the Azores High started to grow to cover a greater area around 200 years ago, as human greenhouse gas pollution began to increase.

It expanded even more dramatically in the 20th century, in step with global warming.

Now the high pressure system, which is usually above the Atlantic and about 1,000 miles from mainland Portugal, has grown larger and pushed further north, bringing high temperatures to the UK.

‘We anticipate that the area of high pressure over the Azores will increasingly extend towards the southwest of the UK,’ Daniel Rudman, of the Met Office, has said. 

‘This will lead to a good deal of warmer and mostly dry weather, especially across the south, although it may also bring cloud and rain into the northwest at times.’

Meanwhile, long July days and short nights also mean that strong sunshine builds up high temperatures. 

Professor Richard Allan, professor of climate science at the University of Reading, said: ‘Summer heatwaves in the UK are usually caused by an extended period of dry, sunny conditions, usually associated with high pressure that snuffs out cloud formation. 

‘Because there is little soil moisture, the sun’s energy heats the ground and the air above rather than being used up evaporating water.

‘These conditions can be intensified by hot, arid winds blowing from continental Europe where heat and drought have been building over the summer.’

He added: ‘Higher temperatures and drier soils due to human caused climate change are turning strong heatwaves into extreme or even unprecedented heatwaves.’ 

Britain has been slowly getting hotter since the 19th Century, with the 10 hottest years since 1884 all having occurred since 2002. 

In the past three decades alone, the UK has become 1.62°F (0.9°C) warmer. 

‘Climate change has already influenced the likelihood of temperature extremes in the UK.” said Met Office scientist Dr Nikos Christidis.

‘In a recent study we found that the likelihood of extremely hot days in the UK has been increasing and will continue to do so during the course of the century, with the most extreme temperatures expected to be observed in the southeast of England.’

As the Azores High has expanded, winters in the western Mediterranean have become drier. This graph shows the number of winters with extremely large Azores Highs in a 100 year window

As the Azores High has expanded, winters in the western Mediterranean have become drier. This graph shows the number of winters with extremely large Azores Highs in a 100 year window

The UK had its ninth hottest summer on record last year and the hottest since 2018, with an average temperature of 15.28°C (59.5°F). The graphic above shows which areas of Britain had higher than average summer temperatures compared to the average from 1981-2010

The UK had its ninth hottest summer on record last year and the hottest since 2018, with an average temperature of 15.28°C (59.5°F). The graphic above shows which areas of Britain had higher than average summer temperatures compared to the average from 1981-2010

Which weather will we get? There are five main air masses that battle it out above Britain. They include the Polar Maritime, Arctic Maritime, Polar Continental, Tropical Continental and Tropical Maritime. A sixth air mass, known as the returning Polar Maritime, also affects the UK

Which weather will we get? There are five main air masses that battle it out above Britain. They include the Polar Maritime, Arctic Maritime, Polar Continental, Tropical Continental and Tropical Maritime. A sixth air mass, known as the returning Polar Maritime, also affects the UK

Extreme heat events do occur in natural climate variation due to changes in global weather patterns, the Met Office said.

But it added that the increase in the frequency, duration, and intensity of these events over recent decades is clearly linked to the observed warming of the planet and can be attributed to human activity.

The chances of seeing 106°F (40°C) days in the UK could be as much as 10 times more likely in the current climate than under a natural climate unaffected by human influence, experts say.  

Professor Cloke described the red warning for extreme heat as a ‘wake-up call’ about the climate emergency.  

‘Even as a climate scientist who studies this stuff, this is scary. This feels real. At the start of last week I was worried about my goldfish getting too hot. Now I’m worried about the survival of my family and my neighbours,’ she said.

Why IS the British weather so changeable? UK is ‘unique’ because FIVE air masses battle for supremacy above it, bringing an extraordinary mix of atmospheric conditions that lead to sun one minute and rain the next

Warm and sunny one minute, rain the next, sometimes the British weather can be so wildly changeable it’s difficult to keep up. 

But just why is it so variable and prone to change from day to day? Or even, much to the frustration of those who have forgotten a coat, hour by hour?

And has climate change affected it? 

MailOnline spoke to several meteorologists about what makes the UK’s weather so ‘unique’, as one put it, and whether any other country in the world compares. 

At the heart of it are five main air masses that each have similar temperature and moisture properties. They battle for supremacy above Britain and can spark an extraordinary mix of atmospheric conditions when they clash. 

‘The UK doesn’t have its own weather,’ said Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern, ‘it borrows it from elsewhere.’

‘That is what the air masses are — large bodies of air that come from other places.’ 

This graphic shows the amount of rain areas of Britain had this summer as a percentage of the average from 1981-2010

Southern areas also had less sunshine this summer, while northern parts including Scotland had more

These graphics show the amount of rain and duration of sunshine areas of Britain had last summer as a percentage of the average from 1981-2010. Northern, central and western parts of the UK had less rainfall compared to the average, while some of the south had more. Southern areas also had less sunshine, while northern parts including Scotland had more

WHAT IS THE JET STREAM AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT BRITAIN’S WEATHER? 

The jet stream is a fast moving strip of air high up in the atmosphere that’s responsible for steering weather systems towards the UK from the Atlantic.  

It has a warm side to the south and a cold side to the north and can have a major impact on what kind of weather we experience.

In a typical British summer, when temperatures are warmer and drier, the jet stream is to the north of the UK, where it pulls up hot air across the country.

However, in the winter it sits further south and brings wet and windier weather because low pressure areas come closer to the UK.

The jet stream, which sits at about 30,000ft, can also change shape, going from flat to amplified, and it’s the latter that can lead to huge thunderstorms developing very quickly.

Professor Liz Bentley, CEO of the Royal Meteorological Society, said: ‘When two air masses are next to each other that is when we get dramatic weather conditions.

‘Air masses are dependent on wind direction; if coming from the continent they are continental, from the north they are polar, from the ocean it’s maritime and from the south they’re tropical.’  

They include the Polar Maritime, Arctic Maritime, Polar Continental, Tropical Continental and Tropical Maritime. A sixth air mass, known as the returning Polar Maritime, is also seen above Britain and is a variation of the Polar Maritime.

Each air mass brings a different type of weather, but as they meet and battle it out, it’s the one that wins which dictates if we get warm sunshine, freezing rain or a spectacular thunderstorm.

‘We mainly get the maritime air, either Tropical Maritime, Polar Maritime or returning Polar Maritime, because of how the Earth spins, leading to prevailing westerly winds for the UK,’ Mr McGivern said.

Professor Bentley added: ‘Although all the air masses have a role to play, the prevailing wind direction for us is westerly so we tend to see more coming from the Atlantic.

‘The time of year doesn’t affect which air mass wins, but when one does, it depends what season we’re in as to what weather we get.

‘In the winter, air from the continent is very cold. That’s why we had the Beast from the East in 2018 — because freezing air was coming from Siberia.

‘However, in the summer, when the Tropical Continental air mass is more common, the air is warm because it’s coming from a very hot continent, so you’re likely to get heatwaves.’  

Although it might not always seem it, heatwaves in Britain are actually becoming much more common.

‘We are seeing climate change in the UK,’ said Professor Bentley. ‘There has been an increase in temperatures — the average monthly temperature has increased by 1°C (1.8°F) in the last 30 years. 

‘Temperature records are being broken more regularly and we’re also more likely to see heatwaves that last longer and are more intense.’

So is the British weather only going to get more unpredictable?

‘It’s becoming more volatile, more intense,’ said Professor Bentley. ‘It’s a much more volatile situation than three or four decades ago.

‘Sometimes we even get two or three seasons in one day. 

The graphic above shows how the jet stream works and where it's located between seasons

The graphic above shows how the jet stream works and where it’s located between seasons

‘We’ve also seen increases in rainfall, particularly intense rainfall that can lead to flash floods, which is another effect of climate change in the UK.

‘And the Met Office has said in a report that we are likely to see 40°C (104°F) recorded in the UK within the next decade.’

Some of the cold and dreary weather can often be brought by the Polar Maritime, but it is not just about the air masses — the jet stream at 30,000ft also plays its part. 

This is a fast moving strip of air high up in the atmosphere that’s responsible for steering weather systems towards the UK from the Atlantic.

It has a warm side to the south and a cold side to the north. In a typical British summer, when temperatures are warmer and drier, the jet stream is to the north of the UK, where it pulls up hot air across the country.

However, in the winter it sits further south and brings wet and windier weather because low pressure areas come closer to the UK.

The jet stream can also change shape, going from flat to amplified, and it’s the latter that can lead to huge thunderstorms developing very quickly.

***
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