130F Hottest temperature ever recorded – and it’s at Furnace Creek

IF you thought last week was on the warm side, spare a thought for the denizens of Death Valley in California where the temperatures hit 54.4C (130F) – the highest ever recorded on Earth.

Appropriately enough, it was recorded in Furnace Creek, a village of about 25 inhabitants, on Sunday.

Before this, the highest temperature reliably recorded on Earth was 54C (129.2F) in 2013 and also in Death Valley – a 3,000sq mile trough of low desert between two mountain ranges. A higher reading of 56.6C (134F) was taken in the same location in 1913, but is heavily disputed. The UK record is the 38.7C (102F) at Cambridge on July 25 last year. During last week’s heatwave temperatures were edging close to this but now the weather has taken on a autumnal feel as the remnants of an Atlantic tropical storm approach.

Yesterday, yet more heavy, thundery showers fell across England and Wales, bringing up to 2¾in of rain in a few hours. Further scattered showers, some of which could be heavy, are expected today.

The remains of Storm Kyle, which originated off the eastern United States, is set to move in later tomorrow. There will be further spells of heavy rain and gale force winds of up to 55mph, with the strongest gusts in areas such as the Brecon Beacons and southern and western coasts. The weather system is due to be followed by blustery showers on Thursday, lasting into the weekend. Gales will remain a possibility, especially in the South and W est.

But the flow of tropical air will at least keep temperatures up – with maximum figures of 24C (75F) in southern England today and tomorrow and 26C (79F) on Thursday. Further north, temperatures could reach 22C (72F) today and tomorrow, rising to 24C (75F) on Thursday.

Warm but unsettled weather will continue into next week. After that, temperatures will ‘fall away’ over the Bank Holiday weekend, according to the Met Office.