Records tumble as the mercury heads north
Britain experienced the hottest June day for 40 years yesterday. Heathrow, in west London, hit temperatures of 94.1F (34.5C) by 4pm, the highest for June since the 96F (35.6C) recorded in Southampton on June 28 1976. Thunderstorms were forecast to end the heatwave overnight.
BARRISTERS and judges were allowed to ditch their traditional gowns and wigs – and schools sent pupils home early – as Britain experienced the hottest June day for 40 years yesterday.
Heathrow, in west London, had reached temperatures of 94.1F (34.5C) by 4pm, the highest for June since the 35.6C (96F) recorded in Southampton on June 28 1976, the Met Office confirmed.
Sweltering temperatures inside Croydon Crown Court forced Judge Deborah Charles to allow counsel to leave their heavy black gowns and horse-hair wigs to one side as they addressed a jury in the opening of a case.
Andover Church of England Primary School, Hants, closed its doors at 11.30am yesterday morning because of the heat.
Yesterday was the hottest summer solstice on record, as temperatures rose above 86F (30C) for the fifth consecutive day in a row. But the hottest prolonged spell in June since the drought summer of 1976 is set to come to an end, with a cold front sweeping across the UK overnight.
There are also weather warnings in place, with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast for parts of southern Scotland, northern England, north Wales and the Midlands.
The Met Office warned last night of the potential for torrential downpours, frequent lightning, very large hailstones and strong gusts of wind, which could lead to localised flooding and temporary power disruption.
Chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “The high pressure that has dominated our weather of late is starting to move away, allowing fresher air in from the west. A cold front that will pass through the UK will mark an end to the hot spell of weather in the south and bring cloudier skies and lower temperatures.”
The sweltering temperatures have seen “unprecedented demand” for ambulance services in London, with people collapsing in the heat. Patients calling for non-emergencies are likely to wait four hours for an ambulance, London Ambulance Service warned.
On Monday, the service’s staff answered 6,613 emergency calls, compared with 4,695 the week before – a 41 per cent increase. This is expected to continue while the heatwave lasted.
Peter Mckenna, deputy director of operations, said: “Our crews are extremely busy. On Monday we attended 20 per cent more seriously ill and injured patients than the same day last week and we’ve also been involved in a number of high-profile major incidents.”
Medical director Dr Fenella Wrigley said: “We see an increase in calls because people can forget to stay hydrated and the heat can exacerbate heart and breathing conditions.
“We are getting calls from people who do not need an ambulance – for minor sunburn, heat rash, hay fever.
“These can be dealt with by a pharmacist. If you call us for something minor, you may experience a long wait.”
Youngsters were urged not to go swimming in lakes, rivers and reservoirs during the hot weather, following the deaths of two teenagers in separate incidents.
A 16-year-old boy died at a reservoir in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on
‘We are getting calls from people suffering from minor sunburn, heat rash or hay fever’
Monday, while a 15-year-old boy died after going into a lake in the Pelsall area of the Black Country on Tuesday.
West Midlands Fire Service’s area commander Ben Brook, said: “We absolutely understand the temptation to swim, have fun and cool down in a heatwave, but we are asking people not to. It simply isn’t worth the risk.”
A pensioner also drowned off the Sussex coast on Monday.
Approximately 13,000 people descended on Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the summer solstice, seeing the sun rise at 4.52am.