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| UK heatwave: Country braces for hottest day on record | UK heatwave: Country braces for hottest day on record |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UK is expecting its hottest day on record on Thursday, with temperatures of up to 39C (102.2F) forecast in southern and eastern England. | The UK is expecting its hottest day on record on Thursday, with temperatures of up to 39C (102.2F) forecast in southern and eastern England. |
| The Met Office said there was a 60% chance of the current record of 38.5C (101.3F) from August 2003 being broken. | The Met Office said there was a 60% chance of the current record of 38.5C (101.3F) from August 2003 being broken. |
| Network Rail warned of disruption in areas where tracks were at risk of buckling - with many rail firms advising passengers not to travel. | Network Rail warned of disruption in areas where tracks were at risk of buckling - with many rail firms advising passengers not to travel. |
| Temperatures topped 30C in south-east England on Wednesday. | Temperatures topped 30C in south-east England on Wednesday. |
| The highest recorded temperature was 33.7C (92.7F) at Cavendish in Suffolk. | |
| Elsewhere on Thursday, parts of Scotland could see temperatures close to 30C, while parts of Wales could also reach 30C. A weather front close to Northern Ireland will keep it cooler. | Elsewhere on Thursday, parts of Scotland could see temperatures close to 30C, while parts of Wales could also reach 30C. A weather front close to Northern Ireland will keep it cooler. |
| Current record temperatures across the UK are: | Current record temperatures across the UK are: |
| Later on Thursday, eastern Scotland and the north and east of England could see rain, with a Met Office yellow warning for thunderstorms in place from 15:00 BST on Thursday into early Friday morning. | Later on Thursday, eastern Scotland and the north and east of England could see rain, with a Met Office yellow warning for thunderstorms in place from 15:00 BST on Thursday into early Friday morning. |
| There are warnings that the storms could trigger travel delays, flash flooding, and power cuts. | There are warnings that the storms could trigger travel delays, flash flooding, and power cuts. |
| How will it impact travellers? | |
| Speed restrictions are in place on some train routes because of the high track temperatures. | |
| Great Western has cancelled some trains between London, Cardiff and Swansea because of the heat. | |
| Network Rail, which manages the rail network infrastructure, says tracks can get up to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature. | |
| This may cause delays and cancellations to journeys across the whole Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink networks until the end of the day. | |
| Other rail companies, including Greater Anglia, East Midlands, LNER, and Hull Trains, are advising people not to travel. | |
| Southeastern Railway is the latest to suggest customers avoid all but "absolutely necessary" travel. | Southeastern Railway is the latest to suggest customers avoid all but "absolutely necessary" travel. |
| Even those travelling by car could find their journey less enjoyable as FM and AM radio signals can be disrupted in hot weather. | |
| This happens when heat causes the signals from local stations to travel further and cause interference outside their usual range. | |
| How to stay safe | |
| Public Health England has maintained a level three heat health watch for eastern areas of England. | |
| Police have also warned of the risks of cooling off in open water, after three bodies - believed to be of swimmers - were recovered in London and Gloucestershire. | Police have also warned of the risks of cooling off in open water, after three bodies - believed to be of swimmers - were recovered in London and Gloucestershire. |
| Britain is not used to such extreme temperatures, which means some people could be vulnerable to heat exhaustion. | |
| NHS advice says people should cool off immediately if they show the following symptoms: headaches, feeling dizzy, loss of appetite, nausea, excessive sweating, cramps, fast breathing and intense thirst. | |
| If your body's temperature goes over 40C (104F), heat-stroke can set in, which requires urgent medical help. Danger signs include sweat stopping - the person may feel hot, but dry - and breathing difficulties. | |
| Physical thirst is not a very reliable indicator of how dehydrated people are (urine colour is better), so try to drink plenty before you feel parched. | |
| Try not to drink too much caffeine or alcohol, as they are diuretics that can increase dehydration. | |
| Foods with high water content such as strawberries, cucumber, lettuce, celery and melon can also help you stay hydrated. Read our handy advice page on how o deal with the heat here. | |
| Heatwave hits Europe | |
| On the continent Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands all recorded their highest ever temperatures on Wednesday. | On the continent Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands all recorded their highest ever temperatures on Wednesday. |
| The Met Office says heatwaves are on the increase as a result of climate change. | |
| Higher temperatures are making extreme hot spells more likely and more intense, experts warn. | Higher temperatures are making extreme hot spells more likely and more intense, experts warn. |