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/2020/aug/08/uk-weather-heatwave-to-continue-this-weekend-and-into-next-week

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UK weather: heatwave to continue into next week UK beaches packed on Saturday as mini-heatwave continues
(about 8 hours later)
Overnight temperatures in south could break records though thunderstorms also forecast after weekend Overnight temperatures in south could break records next week though thunderstorms also forecast
Parts of the UK could experience record overnight temperatures this weekend as the mini-heatwave continues. People in the UK have flocked to beaches with temperatures approaching 36C on Saturday as the mini-heatwave continues.
London and the south-east have been unusually hot over the past few days, and temperatures are expected to remain high until the middle of next week. Friday was the hottest August day in 17 years, with 36.4C recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens in London, and temperatures are expected to remain high until the middle of next week.
Friday was hottest August day in 17 years, with 36.4C recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens in London. The Met Office said temperatures reached 34.5C at Frittenden in Kent on Saturday, and that although there was some cloud south-east England could again peak at 36C.
The hottest August day on record is 38.5C, recorded in Faversham on 10 August 2003. Crowds of people headed for the coast, with images showing packed beaches, traffic jams and full car parks. Much of Bournemouth’s coast was deemed unsafe on Saturday by the local authority and people were told to avoid 19 of its 24 beaches because “safe social distancing is not possible”.
The UK’s highest temperature, of 38.7C, was recorded at Cambridge Botanic Garden on 25 July last year. Some beachgoers complained about larger groups arriving later in the day and not respecting physical distancing, but others were unconcerned. Brighton beach was seen packed with sunseekers and many were also pictured in Weymouth, Anglesea, Lyme Regis and elsewhere. In Sussex, police turned away cars from the beach area as the car park was full by 10am.
Crowds of people headed for the coast on Friday, with images of packed beaches, traffic jams and full carparks shared widely on social media. Parts of the UK could have record overnight temperatures this weekend, with London and the south-east experiencing unusually hot weather over the past few days.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council’s beach check app showed 19 of its 24 beaches under red alert on Friday afternoon, and authorities urged people to avoid the areas because safe social distancing was not possible. Many more people are expected in the area over the weekend. The Met Office has said more records may be matched or broken in the coming days with some extremely hot and sticky nights on the way. Temperatures in parts of south-east England will remain above 20C, potentially reaching the overnight record of 23.9C set in Brighton on 3 August 1990.
The Met Office has said more records may be matched or broken in the coming days with some very hot and sticky nights on the way. The Met Office has issued a level-three health warning for the south and south-east, meaning the public should look out for others, particularly children, older people and those in poor health.
Temperatures in parts of south-east England will remain above 20C, potentially reaching the record of 23.9C set in Brighton on 3 August 1990. Ishani Kar-Purkayastha, a Public Health England consultant, said: “This summer, many of us are spending more time at home due to Covid-19. A lot of homes can overheat, so it’s important we continue to check on older people and those with underlying health conditions, particularly if they’re living alone and may be socially isolated.”
The Met Office has issued a level-three heat health warning for the south and south-east, meaning the public should look out for others, particularly children, older people and those in poor health. Dan Harris, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, also said, however, that thunderstorms were on the way and that some places may receive up to 80mm of rain in a few hours.
Ishani Kar-Purkayastha, a Public Health England consultant, said: “This summer, many of us are spending more time at home due to Covid-19.
“A lot of homes can overheat, so it’s important we continue to check on older people and those with underlying health conditions, particularly if they’re living alone and may be socially isolated.”
Dan Harris, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, also said, however, that thunderstorms were on the wayand that some places may receive up to 80mm of rain in a few hours.
“We’ve issued a broad thunderstorm warning for Monday and Tuesday for all parts of the UK, since although the ingredients are there, it’s just too early to pinpoint the details of exactly where and when thunderstorms will occur,” he said.“We’ve issued a broad thunderstorm warning for Monday and Tuesday for all parts of the UK, since although the ingredients are there, it’s just too early to pinpoint the details of exactly where and when thunderstorms will occur,” he said.
“As such, we will be monitoring the developing signals closely and I urge people to keep a close eye on Met Office warnings and forecasts over the coming days.”“As such, we will be monitoring the developing signals closely and I urge people to keep a close eye on Met Office warnings and forecasts over the coming days.”
The climate crisis has made UK heatwaves 30 times more likely and extreme temperatures led to 3,400 early deaths between 2016-19.The climate crisis has made UK heatwaves 30 times more likely and extreme temperatures led to 3,400 early deaths between 2016-19.
The government’s official advisory body, the Committee on Climate Change, said on 25 June that “the UK is poorly prepared for the very serious impacts of climate change, including … overheating”.The government’s official advisory body, the Committee on Climate Change, said on 25 June that “the UK is poorly prepared for the very serious impacts of climate change, including … overheating”.
The hottest August day on record is 38.5C, recorded in Faversham on 10 August 2003. The UK’s highest temperature, of 38.7C, was recorded at Cambridge Botanic Garden on 25 July last year.
South East Water warned that people could be without tap water unless usage was cut as it called on people to “put away the hose pipes, garden sprinklers and garden water toys” to ensure there was enough for everyone to drink.