Britain will need to get used to spring heatwaves as climate change triggers more 'extreme' swings in the weather, experts have warned.
Record-Breaking May Heat
A May temperature record dating back to World War II tumbled on Monday as the Met Office recorded a provisional 33.5C at London Heathrow, easily beating the 32.8C high mark that had stood since 1944.
While the sunny spell was perfectly timed for the bank holiday, with UK beaches, parks and family attractions reporting a bumper weekend, the Met Office has described the heatwave as "unprecedented" for the time of year - it comes remarkably soon after its own climate scientists predicted this could happen.
Scientific Predictions Come True
Research published last summer by Met Office scientists found that the chances of beating the May temperature records set in 1944 was rapidly rising as carbon emissions continue to warm our planet. The study showed that breaking the 32.8C May record was now about three times more likely than it would be without human-caused climate change - meaning what used to be a once-in-a-century event is now expected roughly once every 33 years.
Records dating back to 1884 show that all three warmest springs have happened since 2017.
Expert Warnings
Professor Chris Brierley, Professor of Climate Science at University College London, said: "Most definitely. We expect the impacts of climate change to be most obviously felt through more instances of extreme heat." He added that these uplifts could occur at any time of year, with "really important consequences for biology" and "substantial health consequences" when they coincide with already hot periods.
Health Alerts in Place
Heat health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency on Friday are set to remain in force across England until Wednesday evening. An amber alert spelling out "increased pressure" on the NHS and a likely "rise in deaths" is in place for the East Midlands, East of England, London, South East and West Midlands. A yellow alert covers the North West, North East, South West and Yorkshire and the Humber.
This week's heatwave highlights that what were once 'exceptional' weather events are increasingly becoming part of everyday British life, spelling inevitable future impacts for both human health and the natural environment as the climate crisis intensifies.
