Marks & Spencer is investing in new refrigeration equipment capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 45C after some fridges broke down during last month's record-breaking heatwave, chief executive Stuart Machin announced at the company's annual general meeting in London.
Heatwave Causes Refrigeration Failures
Speaking to shareholders, Machin admitted that the retailer struggled during nine days of extreme heat in June, when temperatures climbed to 37.7C – the highest June temperature ever recorded in the UK, surpassing the previous record set in 1976. "There's no doubt we were struggling in those nine days of extreme heat," he said. "Now we're investing in equipment in our stores to deal with temperatures of 45C. We're reviewing all our refrigeration as well."
The move comes as the UK faces yet another heatwave, with weather forecasters predicting temperatures reaching around 32C across southern England on Tuesday, rising to 33C on Wednesday, 34C on Thursday, and as high as 35C in isolated areas by Friday and Saturday.
Future Climate Risks
The Met Office has warned that there is a 50:50 chance the UK could experience temperatures of 40C again within the next 12 years as climate change increases the risk of extreme heat. It has also stated that temperatures of 45C or higher may now be possible in the UK's current climate. The forecaster published a "plausible" future scenario showing a June heatwave in 2056 with temperatures peaking at 45C in England, after the UK exceeded 40C for the first time on record in 2022.
Current Heatwave Alerts
Amber heat health alerts are in force this week for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, the South East, and the South West, from 9am tomorrow until 9pm on July 12. Yellow alerts covering the same period have also been issued for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates said parts of the UK were entering the third heatwave of the year. "However, unlike the May and June heatwaves, we are not expecting this heatwave to be record-breaking. Temperatures this week are not expected to reach the highs we witnessed last month, though parts of southern England in particular are likely to see several days in the low 30s Celsius, and a few places could reach 34-35C later this week," he said. "Night-time temperatures again will not be as high as what we experienced in June, though some larger urban areas are likely to remain in the high teens Celsius overnight, especially later in the week, and there is a chance that a tropical night (where temperatures do not fall below 20C) may be recorded in a few places."
