This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/19/thunderstorms-blood-rain-hottest-day-of-year-weather
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorms and blood rain forecast after UK's hottest day of year | Thunderstorms and blood rain forecast after UK's hottest day of year |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Temperatures across much of the UK broke the 30C mark on Tuesday, the hottest day recorded this year, exceeding temperatures in the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and the Sahara desert. | Temperatures across much of the UK broke the 30C mark on Tuesday, the hottest day recorded this year, exceeding temperatures in the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and the Sahara desert. |
| The Met Office said Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, registered the highest temperature, at 33.5C. It said heavy thunderstorms were due to hit the north of England and Scotland on Tuesday night, but the hot weather was predicted to continue to the weekend. | The Met Office said Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, registered the highest temperature, at 33.5C. It said heavy thunderstorms were due to hit the north of England and Scotland on Tuesday night, but the hot weather was predicted to continue to the weekend. |
| Some rail services were cancelled or disrupted as train companies warned of buckled tracks. In London, commuters faced sapping heat on tube trains and buses. | Some rail services were cancelled or disrupted as train companies warned of buckled tracks. In London, commuters faced sapping heat on tube trains and buses. |
| By midday in St James’s Park, Westminster, the mercury had reached 32C. Green spaces were packed as workers found excuses to leave their desks. Hampstead Heath’s leisure and events manager, Paul Maskell, said the heath had never been busier, and Parliament Hill lido had to turn people away. | By midday in St James’s Park, Westminster, the mercury had reached 32C. Green spaces were packed as workers found excuses to leave their desks. Hampstead Heath’s leisure and events manager, Paul Maskell, said the heath had never been busier, and Parliament Hill lido had to turn people away. |
| “In 21 years of working here, I have never seen such a sheer volume of people coming to the heath to sunbathe or find a shady spot under a tree,” Maskell said. “It seems absolutely everyone has taken the day off in London. No one at all seems to be going to work.” | “In 21 years of working here, I have never seen such a sheer volume of people coming to the heath to sunbathe or find a shady spot under a tree,” Maskell said. “It seems absolutely everyone has taken the day off in London. No one at all seems to be going to work.” |
| He said the heath’s swimming ponds – where water temperatures reached a record 24C – were also in high demand. He added: “We took the decision to close the lido as there were hundreds of people queuing outside in severe heat, and we had thousands come in through the day.” | He said the heath’s swimming ponds – where water temperatures reached a record 24C – were also in high demand. He added: “We took the decision to close the lido as there were hundreds of people queuing outside in severe heat, and we had thousands come in through the day.” |
| The sunshine meant a busier day than usual for the emergency services, who issued warnings about the dangers of some ways of trying to beat the heat. On Monday in Staffordshire a 46-year-old man died after jumping into a canal, apparently to cool off, and on Tuesday in Brighton two men were rescued from the sea after hiring jetskis, losing control and crashing into one another. | The sunshine meant a busier day than usual for the emergency services, who issued warnings about the dangers of some ways of trying to beat the heat. On Monday in Staffordshire a 46-year-old man died after jumping into a canal, apparently to cool off, and on Tuesday in Brighton two men were rescued from the sea after hiring jetskis, losing control and crashing into one another. |
| Meanwhile in Banbury, Oxfordshire, the fire brigade were called to deal with a blaze in a sewing machine shop. They said sunrays concentrated through a magnifying glass in the shop window had set material alight. | Meanwhile in Banbury, Oxfordshire, the fire brigade were called to deal with a blaze in a sewing machine shop. They said sunrays concentrated through a magnifying glass in the shop window had set material alight. |
| London Ambulance Service said that on Monday it received more than 300 category-A calls, which means paramedics respond under blue lights to seriously ill and injured patients. | London Ambulance Service said that on Monday it received more than 300 category-A calls, which means paramedics respond under blue lights to seriously ill and injured patients. |
| The service’s medical director, Dr Fenella Wrigley, said the soaring heat had caused problems for people already in poor health. | The service’s medical director, Dr Fenella Wrigley, said the soaring heat had caused problems for people already in poor health. |
| She added: “We have seen an increase in calls because people forget to stay hydrated, and the heat can exacerbate heart and breathing conditions. Older people, the very young and people with pre-existing conditions are more at risk, so please check on friends, family members and neighbours who are vulnerable. | She added: “We have seen an increase in calls because people forget to stay hydrated, and the heat can exacerbate heart and breathing conditions. Older people, the very young and people with pre-existing conditions are more at risk, so please check on friends, family members and neighbours who are vulnerable. |
| “We urge everyone out enjoying the sunshine to drink plenty of water, stay in the shade to keep cool, cover up, carry any essential medication with them and drink alcohol in moderation.” | “We urge everyone out enjoying the sunshine to drink plenty of water, stay in the shade to keep cool, cover up, carry any essential medication with them and drink alcohol in moderation.” |
| In Scotland, temperatures were in the high 20s as far north as the Highlands, and peaked at 28.3C in Prestwick, Ayrshire. | In Scotland, temperatures were in the high 20s as far north as the Highlands, and peaked at 28.3C in Prestwick, Ayrshire. |
| A forecaster at MeteoGroup has said that on Wednesday there is a chance of a phenomenon known as “blood rain”. The meteorological quirk happens when dust from the Sahara desert is blown into the atmosphere and then falls on Britain in thundery showers. | A forecaster at MeteoGroup has said that on Wednesday there is a chance of a phenomenon known as “blood rain”. The meteorological quirk happens when dust from the Sahara desert is blown into the atmosphere and then falls on Britain in thundery showers. |
| Scotland can expect thunder, lighting strikes, hail and flash floods as two bands of rain sweep in from the Atlantic on Wednesday. The Met Office forecaster Alex Priestley said: “We have been liaising with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and they’re prepared for dealing with any issues that may arise.” | Scotland can expect thunder, lighting strikes, hail and flash floods as two bands of rain sweep in from the Atlantic on Wednesday. The Met Office forecaster Alex Priestley said: “We have been liaising with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and they’re prepared for dealing with any issues that may arise.” |
| The Met Office said UK temperatures were expected to fall over the weekend. | The Met Office said UK temperatures were expected to fall over the weekend. |
| The hot weather has some way to go to match the heatwave of 1976, when a maximum temperature of 32C or more was recorded on 15 consecutive days a phenomenon known as “blood rain”. The meteorological quirk happens when dust from the Sahara desert is blown into the atmosphere and then falls on Britain in thundery showers. | The hot weather has some way to go to match the heatwave of 1976, when a maximum temperature of 32C or more was recorded on 15 consecutive days a phenomenon known as “blood rain”. The meteorological quirk happens when dust from the Sahara desert is blown into the atmosphere and then falls on Britain in thundery showers. |
| • This article was amended on 21 July 2016. MeteoGroup, not the Met Office, said that said there was a chance of “blood rain”. | • This article was amended on 21 July 2016. MeteoGroup, not the Met Office, said that said there was a chance of “blood rain”. |