Warmest UK night on record as capital set to swelter in heatwave

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T

he UK has recorded its warmest night on record from Monday to Tuesday, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.

Temperatures did not fall below 25C in places, including 25.8C in Kenley in Croydon, exceeding the previous highest daily minimum record of 23.9C, recorded in Brighton on August 3, 1990.

The warmest night on record is set to turn into the hottest day in London with temperatures predicted to hit 40C amid growing travel chaos.

Transport for London (TfL) said the capital’s rail network would be running a reduced service due to safety restrictions put into place to deal with the heat. Just after 8.30am there were severe delays on the Central and District lines, while the Hammersmith and City line was completely suspended, there were minor delays on the Jubilee and Piccadilly lines and the Elizabeth Line. The London Overground and Metropolitan lines were part suspended and also experiencing delays.

It comes after the mercury peaked at 38.1C in Santon Downham, Suffolk on Monday, making it the hottest day of the year and the third hottest day on record, after 38.7C in Cambridge in 2019 and 38.5C in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003.

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Britons have been urged to stay inside during the hottest period of the day, between 11am and 4pm, and wear sun cream, a hat, stay in the shade and keep hydrated with water – and there are warnings about in lakes, rivers and reservoirs .

Live updatesShow latest updates 1658217213Pictured: Sun rises ahead of another sweltering day

People turn out to watch the sunrise at Collercoats Bay, North Tyneside

/ PAPA1658216856 Thameslink says no trains running north of London on Tuesday

Rail operator Thameslink is warning people to not travel on routes to the north of London on Tuesday.

There will be no trains on the following routes:

Bedford and London via St AlbansPeterborough and London Kings Cross / London St Pancras InternationalKings Lynn, Cambridge and London Kings Cross / London St Pancras InternationalWelwyn Garden City and Moorgate (Great Northern Metro)Stevenage and Moorgate (Great Northern Metro)

Meanwhile, Thameslink has said on routes south of London you should only travel if your journey is absolutely essential.

“Please do not use our trains to go to the beach,” they said.

1658215001Warmest UK night on record, according to provisional figures

The UK has experienced its warmest night on record, according to provisional Met Office figures.

Temperatures didn’t fall below 25C in places, including 25.8C recorded in Kenley in Croydon, exceeding the previous highest daily record of 23.9C, recorded in Brighton on August minimum 3, 1990.

1658214551Ice cream sales jump 14 per cent, according to Kantar

research firm Kantar said supermarkets have seen a 14 per cent jump in ice cream sales and 66 per cent rise for suncare products over the month to July 10 as Brits witness soaring temperatures.

1658214155Cabinet minister: UK transport system cannot cope with extreme heat

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps conceded the UK’s transport network cannot cope with the extreme heat.

He told people to “apply common sense” and “depending on the nature of your journey and reason for it you might want to consider rearranging your day around it”.

He told BBC Breakfast: “We’ve seen a considerable amount of travel disruption, we’re probably going to see the hottest day ever in the UK recorded today and infrastructure, much of it built in Victorian times, just wasn’t built to withstand this type of temperature.

“It will be many years before we can replace infrastructure with the kind of infrastructure that could, because the temperatures are so extreme.”

Asked if the transport system can cope with the weather, he said: “The simple answer at the moment is no.”

1658215390London council warns against littering following grass fire in Hayes

Hillingdon Council is warning residents not to drop any litter during the extreme heatwave following a grass fire in Hayes.

The council tweeted: “Please take extra care in this hot weather to not leave anything behind, such as glass and bottles, that could cause a grass fire.

“Don’t drop cigarettes on dry ground, or out of car windows, please dispose of them carefully.”

On Monday evening, eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to deal with a grass fire at Cranford Park.

Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control but said grass the size of four football pitches was damaged in the blaze.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Many grass fires are avoidable with the most common causes being carelessly discarded cigarettes and matches, unattended barbecues and glass bottles that have been left on dry grass.

“We’re also concerned that some grass fires are being started deliberately and are asking parents to talk to their children about the dangers of starting fires.”

They also said there was a fire on Woolwich Common, which was also thought to be as a result of people dropping litter, as temperatures soared on Monday.

1658213596Slight increase in rates of fainting and heat exposure, says LAS director

Brian Jordan, director of 999 operations for London Ambulance Service, said the service saw a slight increase in calls for fainting and heat exposure on Monday.

The service received 6,600 emergency calls yesterday, which was slightly lower than predicted.

“We really hope that’s because the public really have been listened to the messages about how they can look after themselves and only call 999 if it’s a genuine emergency,” Mr Jordan told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“People have been through a very long day yesterday and there’s been high temperatures overnight and with the even hotter temperatures today, I cannot really emphasize enough that people need to continue to do what we were asking them yesterday – to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun , keep hydrated, look after more vulnerable friends, families, neighbors and use sun cream etc.”

He added: “As yesterday afternoon progressed we saw a slight increase in the rates of fainting and heat exposure.”

Mr Jordan said that the service expected to see a “build-up of illness due to the continued heat overnight and even higher temperatures coming today… it’s just about making sure that even after the peak temperatures, everyone continues to follow that advice.”

Ambulances were not waiting outside of hospitals any longer than usual on Monday, he added.

1658213185Only travel if essential, warns TfL

Transport for London (TfL) is advising customers to only travel if essential on Tuesday 19 July, due to the high forecast temperatures.

The Met Office has issued its first ever red warning for high heat for parts of the UK, including London, with temperatures forecast to hit 40C later in the day.

Temporary speed restrictions have been introduced on parts of the Tube and Rail network as a precaution, which means a reduced service and could mean journeys take longer than usual.

1658212626Shapps depends on PM over leadership during heatwave

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted Boris Johnson has not checked out early from No 10 as the Prime Minister is criticized for not playing a direct enough role in combating the heatwave.

He told Sky News: “It’s literally not true, in fact exactly the opposite is the truth.”

Shown the Prime Minister’s ride in a Typhoon fighter jet during the Farnborough Air Show on Monday, Mr. Shapps defended the flight.

“In the end he has responsibility for Britain’s security,” Mr. Shapps said.

“There is a war going on in Europe. Why on earth would he not go and meet with the RAF?”

1658212867A look at today’s forecast

The Met Office has released a weather forecast for Tuesday on their Twitter.

Here are the details below:

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