Although the heatwave will end Tuesday night, this won’t be the last summer to see temperatures soar, as correspondent John Ray reports The UK hit its hottest temperature on record with 40.3C in Coningsby in Lincolnshire, according to provisional Met Office figures. Coningsby reached 40.3C at around 4pm. Charlwood, Surrey, hit 39.1C just before midday – beating the previous record of 38.7C set at Cambridge Botanic Gardens in 2019. Forecasters warn it is likely to get even hotter during the day, with temperatures of up to 41C predicted as much of England remains under the first red extreme heat warning. Britain’s “exceptional” heat wave has already broken several weather records, with Monday night’s highest daily minimum temperature ever recorded. Temperatures did not drop below 25C in places – surpassing the previous highest daily minimum record of 23.9C recorded in Brighton on 3 August 1990. And Tuesday night into Wednesday could also see temperatures stay above 20C, known as a ‘tropical night’, and while Wednesday will be much cooler, it will still be around 28-30C Celsius in some areas – warm for the time of year. The rise in temperatures also prompted the UK Health Safety Authority (UKHSA) to issue a level 4 heat warning – described as an ’emergency’ – and urged the public to take extra precautions to stay hydrated and out of the sun during during peak hours. The public has also been urged not to use disposable barbecues in the countryside as fires rage in several locations across England with fire services reporting a high number of calls. Firefighters battle a blaze in Dartford, Kent. Credit: PA Houses appeared to have been set alight near a huge grass fire in Dartford, Kent, a “horrific” blaze has also broken out at a nature reserve in Norfolk and dramatic footage captured flames tearing through houses on the outskirts of London. In response to a huge wave of fires in the capital, the London Fire Brigade has declared a Major Incident. Mayor Sadiq Khan described the situation as “critical” with firefighters under “huge pressure”. Much of Europe is also baking in record heat, fueling wildfires in many countries. As Europe bakes in scorching temperatures, correspondent Ben Chapman reports from Gironde, south-west France, where firefighters are battling raging forest fires Emergency services and the government reiterated urgent warnings about the dangers of trying to keep waterways and reservoirs cool after several tragedies across the country in two days of heatwave. On Tuesday, Wiltshire Police said a man in his 20s was confirmed dead shortly after being pulled from the water at Cotswold Water Park on Monday night. In Clacton, Essex, one person is missing after a dramatic rescue saw pier staff dangling from ropes as they tried to keep struggling swimmers afloat. Five people were pulled from the water, while a rescue helicopter is searching for a man who is still missing. Two boys, aged 12 and 14, are in hospital after being rescued from the sea in Blackpool by two “brave” teenage girls after getting into trouble near Central Pier on Monday night. Many flocked to the beaches to cool off. Credit: PA Monday’s travel chaos due to extreme heat continued on Tuesday, with passengers told to travel only if “absolutely necessary” amid a wave of cancellations and delays. Dozens of rail operators have reduced services and imposed speed restrictions to prevent any damage to tracks and to prevent rails from buckling in the sweltering heat. According to Network Rail, the hottest rail line reached 62C on Monday. He tweeted: “Hottest rail on record yesterday was 62C, in Suffolk! The temperature of the rail can be about 20C higher than the air temperature, causing it to expand, bend and break.” Tracks appeared to bend in the heat, while images showed the A14 in Cambridgeshire folding under the strain and a road in Greater Manchester melted into sticky black goo. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted that the UK’s transport network cannot cope with this extreme heat, saying the Victorian-era infrastructure was “simply not built to withstand this type of temperature”. He said it would take decades to replace existing rail lines and even asphalt on roads to make them more resistant to such temperatures. A closer look at global heat anomalies in 1976 and 2022. Credit: NASA/GMB Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more extreme, frequent and likely, and experts warn the UK must adapt homes, hospitals, schools and transport networks to a hotter future. Scientists say the likelihood of extreme heatwaves like the one the UK is experiencing will increase over time due to rising global temperatures. The High Court in central London was closed to visitors on Tuesday due to the temperatures and an air conditioning failure, while many schools remained closed for a second day in view of the extreme temperatures. Britons are being asked to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, between 11am. and 4 p.m., and wear sunscreen, a hat, stay in the shade, and hydrate with water. Claudia Di Napoli, a heatwave researcher at the University of Reading, said the heat poses multiple risks, including dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Want a quick and special update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know “These should not be underestimated as their consequences can be fatal,” he warned. He said infants, the elderly, the homeless, outdoor workers and those with pre-existing medical conditions are most vulnerable, but heat early warning systems could help prevent deaths. The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms across much of the South East and East of England, which could cause disruption on Wednesday evening as temperatures drop from current highs.
