Fryday on our minds
» 34C sizzler to bake Britain » Heat sparks health warning
IT’S not just Cornish poppies that will be red today as the UK is set to be the hottest so far this year.
Temperatures will be higher than LA, Hawaii, Jamaica, Miami, the Canary Islands, Costa Rica, Cyprus, some Greek islands and parts of Barbados, which will all be around 30C.
Yesterday a 29.5C sizzler (85.1F) was recorded in Northolt, West London.
But today is due to surpass this with 34C expected in southern England.
However, the Spanish plume will burn itself out with showers this weekend.
The Met Office and The UK Health Security Agency have issued a Level 3 Heat Health Alert for London, East of England and the South East.
This means the temperatures could be a threat to the public.
In the East Midlands, temperatures should hit 32C (89.6F) today and possibly 35C (95F) on Saturday before some expected rainfall on Sunday.
Manchester will experience highs of 33C (91.4F) on Friday but then face downpours on Saturday with temperatures plunging to 15C. The average June high temperature for the UK is 18C.
Organisers of the Isle of Wight Festival have warned attendees to stay safe during the weekend heatwave and lay off the booze.
The festival runs until Sunday with Muse, Kasabian and Lewis Capaldi headlining at Seaclose Park, Newport.
Prof Hannah Cloke, of the University of Reading, said: “Despite the official warnings, some people still underestimate the effects of heat and don’t change their plans to take it into account.
“We need to consider how people react to the warnings, and continue to improve them. A warning system that people ignore is next to useless. Climate change will only make heatwaves more frequent and extreme in the future.
“Let’s not wait for people to die before we take heatwaves seriously.” The June record was 35.6C (96F) on June 28, 1976. This was matched on June 29, 1957.
Dr Vikki Thompson, climate scientist at the University of Bristol Cabot Institute for the Environment, said: “Heatwaves are one of the most deadly natural hazards in the UK with 3,000 deaths linked to them in 2021.
“Health issues include direct effects, such as heat stroke and cardiovascular failure, and indirect effects including an increase in car crashes and drownings.”
Jason Kelly, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said; “The heat is a result of home-grown warming due to a high pressure over the southern half of the UK.
“There is also a southwesterly airflow bringing warm air that has been over the continent through the week.”
The all-time temperature record for the UK is 38.7C (101.7F), set at Cambridge University on July 25, 2019.
Heatwaves are deadly... in the UK 3,000 deaths were linked to them in 2021
DR VIKKI THOMPSON CLIMATE EXPERT, UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL