Heatwave is milestone in history of UK’S climate

THE recent heatwave was a climate milestone according to the Met Office, with “much more widespread and significant heat than previous noteworthy extreme heat events”.

The 40.3C (104.54F) recorded at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, last Tuesday provisionally set a new record daily maximum temperature, beating the previous figure, set in Cambridge three years ago, by 1.6C.

The high temperatures saw the Met Office issue its lengthiest amber warning, lasting six days, followed by its first

‘The widespread nature is very significant and makes this heatwave stand out in to recent heat events’

red warning for extreme heat as Britons were told to stay indoors amid widespread travel disruption and the breakout of wildfires.

The forecaster’s Mike Kendon said: “The high temperature values were obviously exceptional but their widespread nature is also very significant and makes this heatwave stand above the crowd when it comes to recent heat events that have impacted the United Kingdom.”

Temperatures last Monday and Tuesday topped 38C, which had only happened a couple of times before in the UK – on Aug 10 2003 and July 25 2019 – according to Met Office data which uses observations stretching back to the middle of the 19th century.

Mr Kendon said: “What’s particularly notable is how much more widespread the heat was from this event than the previous two occurrences of temperatures in excess of 38C in the UK.”