African Plume could bring hottest July day EVER on Thursday with 98F record temperature under threat as Britain is set to swelter in three-day heatwave
- Warm sunshine is predicted for much of England and Wales from today, with the mercury hitting 84F (29C)
- Thursday could be the hottest day of the year so far in Britain thanks to new heatwave set to sweep the UK
- Temperatures could beat current 2019 high for UK set on June 29 when 34C (93F) was recorded in London
- Hot weather brought north from plume of Saharan air which is already hitting parts of southern Europe
By Richard Marsden and Daniel Bates For The Daily Mail and Mark Duell for MailOnline
Published: 17:04 EDT, 21 July 2019 | Updated: 04:15 EDT, 22 July 2019
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A heatwave set to hit Britain this week could beat the all-time temperature record for July, forecasters say.
Warm sunshine is predicted for much of England and Wales from today, with the mercury hitting 84F (29C) in south eastern areas. Further north, where rain is due to clear this morning, it could reach 79F (26C).
By Wednesday the warmest areas of southern Britain could reach 95F (35C) – and it could get even hotter still, raising fears of health problems for the elderly.
Even in the far north of England, temperatures could still hit the 80Fs (high 20Cs). The hot weather is being brought north from a plume of Saharan air which is already hitting parts of southern Europe.
A Met Office spokesman said there is a chance Thursday could see the hottest July temperature ever – heat flare shown in red
By Wednesday the warmest areas of southern Britain could reach 95F (35C) – and it will be even hotter on the continent
Met Office spokesman Emma Smith said: ‘On Thursday, there is a chance it could become even warmer. The current highest July temperature since records began in 1910 is 36.7C recorded at Heathrow on July 1, 2015.
‘There is a possibility the record could be broken – although we are forecasting a more widespread maximum temperature of 33C (91.4F) that day. It depends on how quickly thunderstorms move in, bringing cooler air.’
The warmest day of 2019 so far was June 29, when 34C (93F) was recorded at Heathrow and Northolt in London.
For most of the UK, the mercury needs to hit 77F (25C) for three consecutive days to become a heatwave. This threshold increases the further south east in the country, with temperatures in London needing to reach 81F (27C).
Warm sunshine is predicted for much of England and Wales from today, with the mercury hitting 84F (29C) in the South East
The pollen count is high for most of Britain today (left) while UV levels are also high across most of England (right)
Branksome Dene Chine beach in Bournemouth hosted the UK dog surfing championships yesterday
Members of the public take advantage of the sunny and warm weather to spend time on the beach in Brighton yesterday
Amid tinder-dry conditions in central Portugal yesterday, more than 1,800 firemen – assisted by 13 aeroplanes, bulldozers and 20 soldiers – battled a wildfire after bringing under control two other blazes which left 20 people injured and caused a village to be partially evacuated.
Strong winds and highs up to 36C (97F) were making it harder to put out the remaining wildfire in the Castelo Branco area.
Meanwhile, hot conditions were also affecting much of the United States yesterday. US officials said around 95million people were under a heat warning yesterday – on Saturday the figure had been 157million.
At least six people have died in the sweltering heat which took temperatures above 37C (98F), including four in Maryland, one in Arizona and another in Arkansas.
New York was among the worst affected and mayor Bill de Blasio declared a heat emergency with a heat index – what the temperature feels like – of 46C (115F).
How to keep cool: Public Health England’s heat advice
Public Health England warns that the main risks posed by a heatwave are:
- not having enough water (dehydration)
- overheating, which can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing
- heat exhaustion and heatstroke
It says those most at risk are:
- older people, especially those over 75
- babies and young children
- people with a serious long-term condition, especially heart or breathing problems
- people with mobility problems – for example, people with Parkinson’s disease or who have had a stroke
- people with serious mental health problems
- people on certain medicines, including those that affect sweating and temperature control
- people who misuse alcohol or drugs
- people who are physically active – for example, labourers or those doing sports
The Met Office has raised a Level 2 heatwave alert for this week. Public Health England advises people to stay tuned to the weather forecast, check the forecast at their destination if travelling, and keep cool at home. Tips for coping include:
- Shut windows and pull down the shades when it’s hotter outside. You can open the windows for ventilation when it’s cooler.
- Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and do not go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat.
- Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this is not possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter).
- Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water.
- Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol. Water, lower fat milks and tea and coffee are good options. You can also drink fruit juice, smoothies and soft drinks, but they can be high in sugar. Limit fruit juice or smoothies to a combined total of 150ml a day, and choose diet or sugar-free soft drinks.
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