This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49106092
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| UK heatwave: Country sees hottest July day on record | UK heatwave: Country sees hottest July day on record |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UK has had its hottest July day on record, with temperatures reaching 38.1C (100.6F) in Cambridge. | The UK has had its hottest July day on record, with temperatures reaching 38.1C (100.6F) in Cambridge. |
| The previous record for July was 36.7C, with Thursday's top temperature falling just short of the all-time high of 38.5C, reached in 2003. | |
| Commuters faced disruption after Network Rail reported a number of heat-related incidents on the railway. | |
| Forecasters warned the heat could lead to heavy rain in some areas, causing more disruption to travellers. | |
| The Met Office said the temperature reading from Cambridge was only the second time the UK had gone over 100F. | The Met Office said the temperature reading from Cambridge was only the second time the UK had gone over 100F. |
| The July heat record was first broken at around 13:30 BST on Thursday when the Met Office said the temperature at Heathrow reached 36.9C. | The July heat record was first broken at around 13:30 BST on Thursday when the Met Office said the temperature at Heathrow reached 36.9C. |
| The previous hottest July day was recorded on 1 July 2015, also at Heathrow, with a temperature of 36.7C. | The previous hottest July day was recorded on 1 July 2015, also at Heathrow, with a temperature of 36.7C. |
| Elsewhere in Europe, new high temperature records were set in France, Germany and the Netherlands. | |
| The UK's current highest ever temperature was recorded at Faversham, Kent, in August 2003. | The UK's current highest ever temperature was recorded at Faversham, Kent, in August 2003. |
| How is it affecting travellers? | How is it affecting travellers? |
| Network Rail said heat-related incidents were causing disruption across the rail network and warned people to check with train operators or the National Rail website before travelling to see how their journey was affected. | Network Rail said heat-related incidents were causing disruption across the rail network and warned people to check with train operators or the National Rail website before travelling to see how their journey was affected. |
| It said it was working "flat out" to fix the issues as quickly as possible. | It said it was working "flat out" to fix the issues as quickly as possible. |
| The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said the disruption was particularly bad in London and the South East and warned problems could continue until the weekend. | The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said the disruption was particularly bad in London and the South East and warned problems could continue until the weekend. |
| Robert Nisbet, director of nations and regions at the group, said 20 out of 26 train companies had been affected by cancellations and speed restrictions. | Robert Nisbet, director of nations and regions at the group, said 20 out of 26 train companies had been affected by cancellations and speed restrictions. |
| "We believe there could be roll-on impacts tomorrow, because many of the trains will be in the wrong places, many of the rail staff will be in the wrong places and it will take time to re-set, to stabilise the timetable again," he said. | "We believe there could be roll-on impacts tomorrow, because many of the trains will be in the wrong places, many of the rail staff will be in the wrong places and it will take time to re-set, to stabilise the timetable again," he said. |
| "We could see disruption up until the weekend." | "We could see disruption up until the weekend." |
| 'Like a sauna' | |
| Vivienne Tsui, 23, told the BBC she was waiting to be evacuated from a train in "unbearable" heat after it stopped just after departing from Euston station at around 13:30. | Vivienne Tsui, 23, told the BBC she was waiting to be evacuated from a train in "unbearable" heat after it stopped just after departing from Euston station at around 13:30. |
| Passengers were told the train, bound for Manchester Piccadilly, had suffered a power shortage and there was no air conditioning, she said. | Passengers were told the train, bound for Manchester Piccadilly, had suffered a power shortage and there was no air conditioning, she said. |
| "It's been unbearable, like a sauna. I had to get out of my seat because I felt like I couldn't breathe," she said. | "It's been unbearable, like a sauna. I had to get out of my seat because I felt like I couldn't breathe," she said. |
| The University of Manchester worker said she did not know whether she would be able to get back to Manchester on Thursday and would have to contact her work. | The University of Manchester worker said she did not know whether she would be able to get back to Manchester on Thursday and would have to contact her work. |
| "I don't know what arrangements have been made for us once we get off this train," she added. | "I don't know what arrangements have been made for us once we get off this train," she added. |
| Travellers have faced delays and cancellations to journeys between London Euston and Watford Junction after overhead electric wires were damaged. | |
| East Midlands Trains and Thameslink advised passengers not to travel after damage to the cables between London St Pancras and Luton. | |
| Speed restrictions are in place on some train routes because of high track temperatures. | Speed restrictions are in place on some train routes because of high track temperatures. |
| Great Western has cancelled some trains between London, Cardiff and Swansea because of the heat and routes between London and Scotland are also affected. | Great Western has cancelled some trains between London, Cardiff and Swansea because of the heat and routes between London and Scotland are also affected. |
| Delays and cancellations are also expected for journeys across the Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink networks until the end of the day. | Delays and cancellations are also expected for journeys across the 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. | 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. |
| What's the forecast? | What's the forecast? |
| On Thursday, Scotland recorded its hottest day of the year at 31C, while in Wales it was forecast to exceed 30C. A weather front close to Northern Ireland will keep it cooler. | On Thursday, Scotland recorded its hottest day of the year at 31C, while in Wales it was forecast to exceed 30C. A weather front close to Northern Ireland will keep it cooler. |
| 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. |
| Heatwave hits Europe | Heatwave hits Europe |
| On the continent, the heat rose above 40C in France, Germany and the Netherlands, breaking records. | |
| Paris saw a record high temperature of 42.6C and French reports suggest five deaths might have been linked to the heatwave. | |
| In parts of northern Germany, rivers and lakes have dried up, bringing warnings fish could be "severely threatened". | |
| How to stay safe | How to stay safe |
| People are being urged to help out vulnerable friends, relatives and strangers in the heat. | People are being urged to help out vulnerable friends, relatives and strangers in the heat. |
| Age UK has issued guidance for older people to stay safe while homeless charities are handing out water and sun cream. | Age UK has issued guidance for older people to stay safe while homeless charities are handing out water and sun cream. |
| Public Health England has maintained a level three heat health watch for eastern areas of England. | Public Health England has maintained a level three heat health watch for eastern areas of England. |
| In Bristol, thousands of people have been left without water after a water main burst, with Bristol Water saying the problem might have been caused by the heat. | In Bristol, thousands of people have been left without water after a water main burst, with Bristol Water saying the problem might have been caused by the heat. |
| Homeless charities are handing out water and sun cream to rough sleepers across the country and Public Health England has issued a level-three heat health watch for eastern areas of England. | Homeless charities are handing out water and sun cream to rough sleepers across the country and Public Health England has issued 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 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 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. | Britain is not used to such extreme temperatures, which means some people could be vulnerable to heat exhaustion. |
| The NHS recommends keeping all babies under six months out of direct sunlight, and older infants should be kept out of the sun as much as possible, particularly between 11:00 and 15:00. | The NHS recommends keeping all babies under six months out of direct sunlight, and older infants should be kept out of the sun as much as possible, particularly between 11:00 and 15:00. |
| They should be kept in the shade or under a sunshade if they're in a buggy or pushchair. Sun cream with a high sun protection factor should be applied regularly - particularly if children go into water. | |
| All children should be given plenty of fluids and the NHS says babies who are being breastfed may want to feed more than usual, but will not need water as well as breast milk. | All children should be given plenty of fluids and the NHS says babies who are being breastfed may want to feed more than usual, but will not need water as well as breast milk. |
| NHS advice also 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. | NHS advice also 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. |
| For more information on how to keep safe in the heat, read: | For more information on how to keep safe in the heat, read: |
| Is the heatwave caused by climate change? | Is the heatwave caused by climate change? |
| While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, "research shows that with climate change they are likely to become more common, perhaps occurring as regularly as every other year", the Met Office says. | While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, "research shows that with climate change they are likely to become more common, perhaps occurring as regularly as every other year", the Met Office says. |
| It conducted a study last year that found that the UK was now 30 times more likely to experience heatwaves compared with the year 1750, because of "the higher concentration of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere". | It conducted a study last year that found that the UK was now 30 times more likely to experience heatwaves compared with the year 1750, because of "the higher concentration of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere". |
| Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. | Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. |
| A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. | A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. |
| Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to use of fossil fuels has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate. | Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to use of fossil fuels has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate. |
| What are the UK's current record temperatures? | What are the UK's current record temperatures? |
| The current record temperatures across the UK are: | The current record temperatures across the UK are: |