Britain bakes in bed as nights turn tropical
After-dark temperatures of 20C could become regular part of the season and this year may set a new record
Sixteen nights have officially been recorded as “tropical” this summer thanks to the heatwave. Nights when the temperature does not drop below 20C (68F), were once so rare that they were not logged, but meteorologists have warned they are likely to become a regular feature of summer. Every summer since 2011 has recorded at least 10 tropical nights. The highest minimum nightly temperature this year so far was 22.3C, at Langdon Bay, near Dover, on Aug 8.
TROPICAL nights were once so uncommon in Britain that just eight were recorded in the 30 years between 1961 and 1995.
Now, thanks to the current heatwave, we have seen 16 such hot evenings this summer, with more forecast for this week.
These uncomfortably hot nights, when the temperature does not drop below 20C (68F), were once so rare that they were not logged, but now a larger proportion of our summer nights are spent tossing and turning, and this year looks likely to set a record.
Climate change means tropical nights are likely to continue to increase year on year, and become a regular part of our summers, meteorologists have warned.
Data shows that the average number of tropical nights per year only became statistically significant after 1995. Now, there has been an unbroken run from 2011 to 2020 of at least 10 tropical nights per summer.
The highest minimum nightly temperature this year so far was 22.3C (72.1F) at Langdon Bay, near Dover, on Aug 8.
On this date, the temperature at nine sites in the UK didn’t drop below 20C, which is the highest number of sites since July 26, 2019 when 20 stations failed to drop below 20C.
Other tropical night hotspots in August include Luton, Bognor Regis, Hastings, the Isle of Wight, London, and Southampton. Grahame Madge, a Met Office spokesman, said: “Minimum daily temperatures of 20C or above are still extremely rare events in the UK, but with a changing climate we can expect to see more incidents.
“Mostly it is weather stations in the South East which record these high temperatures, and there have only been three in Scotland since 1961 and none in Northern Ireland over the same period. However, as well as an increasing frequency of events we can also expect to see more occurrences outsides of the South East of England. There is a huge interest from the public about daytime high temperatures.
“While this is important, tropical night temperatures can be extremely challenging for those with underlying health conditions, as it means that when overnight temperatures remain high, it is very difficult to get any respite and rest before the next day’s heat begins to build.”
The heat is set to end this week with torrential rainfall and thunderstorms, and the Environment Agency has warned of possible flooding.
The worst affected areas are expected to be between Birmingham and Cumbria, with rainfall beginning in those areas at 4pm yesterday, although almost the whole of the UK is covered by a Met Office weather warning between now and Thursday evening.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “For England and Wales over the next four days, there is a risk of some very severe weather in places but it is not going to be everywhere.
“Away from the thunderstorms, it is still going to be very hot. It is not going to be wall-to-wall sunshine, but it is not going to be a washout each day.”
The downpours follow an intense period of very hot weather – which saw temperatures reach 34C (93F) at Herstmonceux in East Sussex on Sunday, the fourth consecutive day the south of England passed 30C (86F) – although there is every chance warm conditions will remain for a while, say forecasters.