The UK is set to experience the hottest day of 2019 today, while a punishing heatwave continues sweeping across Europe.
Forecasters say temperatures will climb to 35C in London, 34C in the east of England and 30C in Scotland, and police are warning the public to stay away from waterways after three people died attempting to cool off.
The Saharan winds that have been spreading scorching temperatures across the continent don’t look set to give Europe a break today.
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Temperatures could reach new record-highs again in France, Belgium and Switzerland. In Spain, officials are warning that more ‘significant’ wildfires could break out as the mercury reaches 45C.
Follow the latest on the heatwave below
Temperatures have hit 33C in Heathrow and Northolt, the Met Office says.
Here’s a quick recap of all new records and facts about this heatwave:
- France: Temperatures set a new record high in France yesterday, smashing the previous one. it was 45.9C in Gallargues-le-Montueux, but at least 12 French towns broke the previous record-high of 44.1C. Paris banned driving older cars to curb heatwave-related pollution.
- Spain: Today, unusually high temperatures above 43 degrees were forecast across Spain – for the fourth day in a row. A pile of manure caught fire and developed into Catalonia’s most severe fire in the last 20 years.
- Germany: June 2019 was the hottest and sunniest month since records began. Some 51 observing stations recorded new June temperature records, including the highest-ever: 38.6 °C on 26 June.
- Austria had its warmest June on record, 4.5C above the long-term average for the month.
- Italy: The heat killed at least three people, while hospitals in Milan saw a 35 per cent rise in emergency visits due to heat-related conditions.
- Switzerland: More than half of Switzerland’s observing stations measured new June temperature records on Wednesday.
The World Meteorological Organisation say this prolonged, stifling heatwave is “absolutely consistent” with extremes linked to the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.
In France’s southwestern Gard region, where France’s highest temperature on record was registered yesterday at 45.9C, scores of fires burned some 600 hectares of land and destroyed several houses and vehicles.
More than 700 firefighters and 10 aircraft were mobilised to tackle the fires in the Gard, some of which caused sections of motorways to be temporarily closed. Several firefighters were hurt but no serious injuries were reported.
French media said a man had been arrested for deliberately starting fires in one Gard village.
Temperatures are still above 40C in southwestern France, and forecasters say the heatwave won’t end before tomorrow evening.
Paris is experiencing the hottest day of the heatwave today – it’s 36C there.
Meanwhile, a wildfire that broke out on Tuesday in Catalonia is still ravaging the area, and authorities are saying it has become the most serious fire the region has seen in 20 years.
Catalan firefighters say the situation is “critical” and firefighters are currently “defending themselves” from the fire.
Miquel Buch, the Catalan interior minister, says 21 people involved in firefighting duties required medical assistance overnight.
“We are in the worst hours of the day,” the Catalan firefighters said on Twitter. “We are containing the fire. In the coming hours, firefighters will go from defending themselves to attacking the fire. The situation is still critical.”
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control, but wind and sizzling temperatures could give the blaze fresh impetus. Spanish forecasting office AEMET says temperatures have risen to 41C again in Tarragona.
The cause of the wildfire is thought to be a pile of manure that spontaneously combusted after temperatures soared to 44C.
Britons unused to the scorching weather will need to take precautionary measures to ensure they don’t suffer from heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
My colleague Sabrina Barr has put together a useful guide to what you need to know:
It’s now official. Today is the hottest day of the year so far after temperatures reached 30.8C in Charlwood.
It won’t be sunny and scorching hot everywhere… The Met Office says thunderstorms could develop in southeastern Scotland and northeastern England throughout the day.
The Met Office says UV levels will be very high across England and South Wales.– especially in the early afternoon.
Wear a top, a hat and carry sunscreen!
Councils have been urged to use emergency powers to protect rough sleepers in the hot weather.
Heather Wheeler, the minister for housing and homelessness, has written to local authorities encouraging them to trigger their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to “ease the pressure on vulnerable people”.
“No one should be forced to sleep on the streets – especially during a period of extreme weather,” said Ms Wheeler.
Rough sleepers may find it difficult to find drinking water and sun protection and will be at an increased risk of dehydration, sunburn and sunstroke. Their needs likely to be most urgent in daylight hours.
Forms of support could include free water and sunscreen, the provision of cool daytime spaces and links to healthcare. Members of the public concerned about the welfare of a rough sleeper can use the streetlink.org.uk website or app to alert local authorities.
Travellers, plan ahead: the soaring temperatures could bring disruption to the rail and road network.
RAC patrol of the year Ben Aldous warned that the forecast conditions could be “a recipe for a soaring number of breakdowns in certain parts of the country”.
“It’s a sad reality that some drivers will likely encounter an unwelcome and unscheduled stop at the side of the road,” he said. “They will have to hope they can find some safe shelter from the sun, but it could still mean they suffer some day trip distress.”
Network Rail warns that the hot weather could push track temperatures above 50C and slow operations or cause breakdowns – especially on tourist routes.
According to Network Rail, steel rails absorb heat easily and tend to hover about 20C above the surrounding air temperature. In very hot conditions rails can flex, bend or even buckle, so trains have to run at slower speeds.
If you’re in Yorkshire, where temperatures are expected to reach 30C later today, and were considering a dip in the reservoirs to cool off – don’t do it!
Yorkshire Water are warning temperatures in the water are as low as 12C a dip could lead to thermal shock and fatal consequences.
“Just a short swim can result in a tragic loss of life and we want to once again ask people to stay out of our reservoirs,” says Alastair Harvey, Yorkshire Water’s Recreation Advisor.
“People sometimes do not understand how dangerous they can be.”
The company has issued a statement on its website.
Here’s what forecasters were saying yesterday:
The Met Office says it will be very hot and sunny across southeastern, central and southern England.
The highest temperatures are expected in the afternoon.
Today is set to be the hottest day of 2019 so far in the UK as temperatures will climb to 35C in London.
Temperatures will hit 40C again in parts of Europe.
Good morning on this beautiful Saturday and welcome to our rolling coverage of the heatwave that’s sweeping across Europe.
If you come across a dog that’s been left alone in a car on a hot day, the RSPCA recommends taking action if you suspect that its health could be in danger.
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If you come across a dog that’s been left alone in a car on a hot day, the RSPCA recommends taking action if you suspect that its health could be in danger.
The beach is absolutely packed in Bournemouth…
Some 75,000 revellers are expected throughout the day. Roads are gridlocked and there are huge queues for ice cream stands and inflatable toys.
