The temperature has exceeded 40C within the UK for the primary time on document, with 40.2C reported at Heathrow at 12.50pm on Tuesday, in line with provisional Met Workplace figures.
The edge was hit at 12:50pm as a lot of the UK sweltered in a heatwave, with components of England and Wales beneath a purple warning for excessive warmth, posing a hazard to life, strain on the NHS and disruption throughout transport networks.
It comes because the London Fireplace Brigade (LFB) declared a significant incident attributable to “an enormous surge” in blazes throughout the capital amid the 40C warmth.
Round 100 firefighters tackled a blaze within the village of Wennington, east London, on Tuesday afternoon, with tv footage exhibiting black smoke billowing into the air, with buildings and fields on fireplace.
The fireplace brigade stated in an announcement it was battling “a number of vital” incidents within the capital, as folks have been urged to not have barbecues or bonfires as a result of “unprecedented” challenges crews face.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated the LFB was beneath “immense strain”.
LFB’s assistant commissioner for operational resilience and management, Patrick Goulbourne, stated: “The brigade stays prepared to reply to incidents.
“Nonetheless, we wish to guarantee our sources can be found for individuals who really want our assist.
“For those who see a hearth smouldering, please don’t hesitate to name us.
“The earlier we find out about a hearth, the earlier we are able to carry it beneath management and stop it from spreading additional, decreasing the necessity for us to mobilise further sources.
“We’re additionally strongly urging folks to not have barbecues or bonfires right now as the bottom is extremely dry, which implies even the smallest sparks may trigger a hearth.
“Please take care through the heatwave as all emergency companies are dealing with unprecedented challenges.”
The 40.2C recorded at Heathrow beats the earlier document for the UK of 38.7C in Cambridge three years in the past, by 1.5C, and the Met Workplace warned temperatures have been nonetheless climbing early on Tuesday afternoon.
A lot of England and Wales are beneath a “purple” excessive warmth warning till the top of Tuesday, with the warmth inflicting disruption on transport networks and the chance of significant well being impacts.
It comes after UK skilled its warmest evening on document on Monday as the acute warmth noticed temperatures remaining within the mid-20s in some areas.
Charlwood, Wisley and Chertsey in Surrey, and Kew Gardens and Northolt in west London have been among the many locations to exceed the 2019 document by early afternoon, with temperatures climbing above 39C.
Scotland and Wales may additionally see their hottest days on document right now with temperatures set to rise cross the nation.
Brian Jordan, director of 999 operations for London Ambulance Service, stated the service noticed a slight improve in requires fainting and warmth publicity on Monday.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps conceded the UK’s transport community can not deal with the acute warmth.
He advised folks to “apply widespread sense” and “relying on the character of your journey and motive for it you would possibly wish to contemplate rearranging your day round it”.
He advised BBC Breakfast: “We’ve seen a substantial quantity of journey disruption, we’re most likely going to see the most popular day ever within the UK recorded right now and infrastructure, a lot of it in-built Victorian occasions, simply wasn’t constructed to resist the sort of temperature – and it is going to be a few years earlier than we are able to substitute infrastructure with the form of infrastructure that would, as a result of the temperatures are so excessive.”
Local weather change is making heatwaves extra excessive, frequent and certain, and specialists warn the UK must adapt houses, hospitals, colleges and transport networks to a way forward for extra searing warmth.
A lot of Europe can also be baking in record-breaking warmth, which is fuelling wildfires in a lot of international locations.
Britons have been urged to remain inside through the hottest interval of the day, between 11am and 4pm, and put on solar cream, a hat, keep within the shade and hold hydrated with water.
