UK weather: Britain’s record-breaking summer sparks a plague of RATS

Britain’s longest heatwave since 1976 could spark a plague of rats as they gnaw on food rubbish warmed by weeks of sunshine and fruit that has ripened early, experts have warned.

The mercury could hit 95F (35C) today and rise to 99F (37C) on ‘Furnace Friday’, triggering a thunderstorm warning from the afternoon. There is even a chance Britain could beat its all-time record of 101.3F (38.5C).

But the scorching weather – which has brought a maximum reading of at least 78F (26C) for 31 days in a row up to and including yesterday – could also force councils to step up bin collections as they battle a rodent problem.

The sun rises behind the Liverpool skyline from Woodside ferry terminal across the River Mersey this morning

Rat expert Prof Steve Belmain, a professor of ecology at the University of Greenwich, told the Sun: ‘The heat is increasing the rodents’ activity. They can reproduce once a month — and transmit over 60 diseases.’

Residents in places such as Wigan, Salford and Brighton have complained to councils about rats gathering around bins, with areas including Edinburgh and Devon said to have seen an explosion in the number of rodents.

And with potentially record-breaking high temperatures in the coming days, the Government is being warned it must do more to protect vulnerable people in extreme heat. 

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for torrential downpours of up to 2.4in (60mm) of rain in three hours, accompanied by hail and strong gusts on Friday from 2pm until midnight in northern and eastern England.

Meanwhile a mix of toxic air, extreme highs, emissions from the continent and a lack of cloud cover have caused a ‘high’ air pollution alert to be issued for London.

Air quality alerts will be displayed at bus stops, river piers, on busy roads and at the entrances to London Underground stations today.

Blood donations drop amid spell of hot weather

Health officials are urgently appealing for blood donations, with the prolonged warm weather leading to a drop in supplies.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) aims to have six days’ worth of stock of O negative in England at any one time but levels have fallen to just three days.

While some donors have chosen to stay in the sun, others have not been hydrated enough to give blood.

NHSBT said daily blood donations on warm days have been 5 to 10 per cent below forecasts.

Combined with England’s run in the World Cup, this has resulted in a total shortfall of more than one day’s worth of donations in the last four weeks.

Mike Stredder, director of blood donation, said: ‘The long spell of sunshine has been great in many ways but some people have chosen to stay in the sun instead of giving blood, and some people haven’t been hydrated enough to donate safely.

‘However hospital patients urgently need blood every day of the year, whatever the weather. Nationally, we aim to have six days’ worth of blood stocks but today we only have three days of O negative blood.

‘O negative is especially important because it is the universal donor group which can be given to almost anyone in emergencies. We need donors with other blood groups to keep their appointments as usual but this urgent appeal is specific to O negative.’

NHSBT asks people to stay well hydrated in the days leading up to their donation, to compensate for the fluids they will lose and help bring blood levels back to normal afterwards. Call 0300 123 23 23 for more details.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘This is the second time in six months that we have had to use the ‘high’ alert system and shows just why air pollution is a public health crisis.’

Children, the elderly and people with lung or heart problems have been advised to reduce strenuous exercise and physical exertion.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been urged to set out what measures he is taking to make sure the NHS can cope with the heatwave.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said hospitals are facing year-round pressures, saying ‘the traditional lull in NHS activity during the quieter summer months is a thing of the past’.

Blood supplies have dropped, health officials have said, saying some people have been too dehydrated to donate while others have chosen to stay in the sun.

MPs have warned heat-related deaths will treble by mid-century unless the Government takes action to tackle the dangers of soaring summer temperatures.

Without the Government developing a strategy to protect vulnerable people, such as the elderly, numbers dying from the heat could rise to 7,000 a year by 2050, a report from the parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee said.

The committee called on the Government to take action to ensure homes, hospitals, care homes, offices, cities, water supplies and transport networks can cope with rising temperatures.

Scientists have warned that climate change is making such heat extremes more likely, and the report comes as northern Europe swelters in a prolonged heatwave.

Wildfires in Greece have claimed the lives of at least 80 people, including Irishman Brian O’Callaghan-Westropp, who was there on honeymoon.

He and his new wife Zoe Holohan, who is in hospital after suffering burns to her head and hands, had flown to Greece on Saturday following their wedding in County Meath two days earlier.

An amber ‘heat health watch’ warning remains in place for parts of England, with people being warned to try to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm.

How the UK heatwave has now lasted for 31 days

The top temperature in Britain has been at least 78F (26C) for 31 days in a row up to and including yesterday, making today the 32nd day of the heatwave.

Of the 31 days so far, 21 have seen temperatures of at least 85F (29C), while six have been at least 90F (32C). Meanwhile the hottest day of 2018 record has been broken five times within the period.

Here are the top temperatures recorded in Britain on each of the past 30 days. The lowest reading was 78.4F (25.8C) on July 17, while the highest was 91.9F (33.3C) on July 23.

June 25: 86.2F (30.1C)

June 26: 87.4F (30.8C)

June 27: 89.4F (31.9C)

June 28: 91.4F (33C)

June 29: 90.5F (32.5C)

June 30: 85.1F (29.5C)

July 1: 90F (32.2C) 

July 2: 88.2F (31.3C) 

July 3: 86.2F (30.1C)

July 4: 84.4F (29.1C) 

July 5: 88.6F (31.2C)

July 6: 88.5F (31.4C)

July 7: 88.7F (31.5C)

July 8: 90.3F (32.4C) 

July 9: 86.9F (30.5C)

July 10: 79.3F (26.3C)

July 11: 81F (27.2C)

July 12: 79.7F (26.5C)

July 13: 82.6F (28.1C)

July 14: 85.3F (29.6C) 

July 15: 87.4F (30.8C)

July 16: 88.7F (31.5C)

July 17: 78.4F (25.8C)

July 18: 80.2F (26.8C)

July 19: 84.3F (29.1C)

July 20: 83.1F (28.4C)

July 21: 84.4F (29.1C)

July 22: 85.6F (29.8C)

July 23: 91.9F (33.3C)

July 24: 88.5F (31.4C)

Yesterday: 89.6F (32C)

Today: 95F (35C) forecast 

Following the driest first half of summer on record, farming leaders warned crops are being hit and livestock are having to be fed with feed that should be held for winter as grasslands are parched.

The dry spell has been most prolonged in East Anglia and south-east England where the last day of very widespread rainfall was seen on May 29.

UK temperature records that could be broken

  • Highest temperature so far this year: 91.9F / 33.3C (Santon Downham, Suffolk – July 23)
  • Highest July temperature on record: 98.1F / 36.7C (London Heathrow Airport – July 1, 2015)
  • Highest temperature of 2017: 94.1F / 34.5C (London Heathrow Airport –  June 21, 2017)
  • Highest temperature on record: 101.3F / 38.5C (Faversham, Kent – August 10, 2003)

Firefighters have urged the public to avoid ‘careless and reckless’ behaviour during the ongoing heatwave as crews across the country deal with a high number of field fires.

The thunderstorms could lead to flooding of homes and businesses, difficult driving conditions and potential power cuts, the Met Office warned.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have been experiencing recent temperatures nearer normal for the time of year.

Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘If you’re looking for somewhere to escape the heat, western and northern areas will have pleasantly warm mid-20Cs (70Fs), although across Northern Ireland and western Scotland this may be accompanied by occasionally cloudy skies.’

Temperatures reached a high of 89.6F (32C) yesterday as the warm weather continued in parts of the UK.

Wisley, Surrey, was the warmest place in the UK, while the lowest temperature of 39.6F (4.2C) was recorded in Braemar, Aberdeenshire.

The sunniest place was St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, with 14.3 hours of sunlight, while Lerwick, the main port in the Shetlands, was the wettest with 0.17in (4.4mm) of rain.



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