People across the UK woke up bleary-eyed after a tropical night marked by thunderstorms rolling over southern England. Londoners reported being woken by loud bolts and unprecedented 'strobe lights' as storms swept through the region overnight.
New June Temperature Record
A new June record temperature of 37.1°C was reached in Cavendish, Suffolk, yesterday, according to the Met Office. London pavements have been sizzling, reaching almost 60°C during the heat spell. The Met Office confirmed that Wattisham, Suffolk, provisionally recorded 36.9°C on Friday, marking the third consecutive day of record-breaking June temperatures.
The UK's all-time highest temperature remains 40.3°C, recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on July 19, 2022.
Amber Extreme Heat Warning Remains
London, the South East, and East Anglia remain under an amber extreme heat warning active until 9pm today, with conditions compounded by high humidity. The Met Office warns of the risk of heat exhaustion and possible power cuts, while travel continues to be disrupted as rail infrastructure struggles to cope. Major train operators are running reduced schedules.
The UK Health Security Agency has downgraded its red heat-health alert to amber, which will remain in place until 9am on Sunday, signifying that widespread impacts on sectors like healthcare are possible.
Thunderstorms Overnight
The hot and humid conditions have been ideal for lightning strikes, which struck overnight over London and the South East during a thunderstorm warning. Social media users described the thunder as terrifying, with one user posting: 'No joke that thunder nearly gave man a heart attack.' Another said: 'That was one loud crash of thunder in east London!'
Tragedy in France
The heatwave has taken a tragic turn in France, where a fourth toddler has died in connection with the heatwave. An 18-month-old boy was rushed to hospital after being found in a car in Marseille, believed to have been forgotten by his father, according to Le Figaro. In Paris, a three-year-old boy died after climbing into a car that locked automatically as temperatures soared to nearly 40°C. The bodies of two children, aged two and four, were discovered in a family car earlier this week.
France has banned alcohol sales until tomorrow and postponed events like Pride to ease pressure on emergency services. Over 55 people have drowned this week amid the heatwave.
Travel Disruption
Supertram in South Yorkshire issued a 'do not travel' warning, suspending all services from 1:30pm with ticket acceptance on First and Stagecoach buses. Stonehenge closed early at 3pm due to hot weather, with last entry at 1:30pm, offering refunds to affected ticket holders. No trains are running between Heathrow Terminal 5 and Terminals 2 and 3 after a signal system meltdown, affecting the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express. The Piccadilly line remains unaffected.
Cooling Measures
City Hall and the Mayor of London have released a map listing designated cool spaces, canopy-covered spots, and water fountains. People in Cambridge, under the extreme heat warning, shared siesta-like measures to cope with the heat.
End of Heatwave in Sight
Temperatures are set to drop over the weekend, with the Met Office forecasting more comfortable conditions from Sunday when temperatures dip to the low to mid-20s. Next week, the low 20s are forecast, marking an end to the record-breaking scorcher.
