The United Kingdom is set to welcome fresher conditions on Sunday as the baking heatwave gives way to cooler temperatures and sporadic rain. The Met Office confirmed that Saturday marked the end of the sweltering heatwave that has gripped the nation for much of this week, with the mercury nearing 30°C in south-east England.
Sunday's Forecast
On Sunday, scattered showers are expected across the UK, with temperatures closer to the average for this time of year. Highs of 24°C are anticipated in London, with 19°C in Birmingham, 17°C in Aberdeen, and 19°C in Belfast. Meanwhile, outbreaks of rain are expected to be most frequent and heaviest in northern and western areas, while the east and southeast remain mostly clear.
Record-Breaking Heat Earlier This Week
On Tuesday, England and Wales experienced their hottest May days on record as temperatures soared to 35.1°C in Kew Gardens, west London, while 32.9°C was recorded at Cardiff's Bute Park, according to the Met Office.
Tragic Drownings During Heatwave
At least 14 people died during the heatwave after getting into difficulties in bodies of water. On Saturday, Nottinghamshire Police reported that a 19-year-old man had died after entering the water at Balderton Lake, off Heron Way in New Balderton. Emergency services were called to the scene on Thursday, where the man was recovered from the water and treated before being taken to hospital. The force stated that the family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers. There are no suspicious circumstances, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
In a separate incident, police said a 15-year-old girl died in hospital on Saturday after getting into difficulties in the sea off the coast of Merseyside on Bank Holiday Monday. Chiedza Nyanjowa, from Cheshire, was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after swimming at Formby beach, Merseyside Police said. The family expressed gratitude to those who helped the teenager, describing her as a bubbly person who loved cooking and wanted to become a nurse to give back.
The hot weather attracted many people to open-water swimming, resulting in several deaths across South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire over recent days. These include a 72-year-old woman who died after being pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on Sunday, and a 13-year-old boy, understood to be Reco Puttock, who died after getting into difficulty at Leadbeater Dam, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, on Monday.
Water Supply Issues in Kent
On Saturday evening, South East Water announced that drinking water supplies had been restored for 15,500 customers across Kent, including in the Whitstable and Herne Bay areas, following issues with its network during the hot period. Incident manager Steve Benton said: "Whilst this is positive, we are conscious that today has been another hot day and demand has remained high. Although our network is continuing to recover, levels of drinking water in our storage tanks are still low, and we are asking customers to use water for essential purposes only – drinking, cooking, and hygiene. We are continuing to use our tankers to support the network and aid recovery."
The company added that it was working on restoring supply to some 500 customers who had no water, while a further 3,600 had intermittent supplies. Mr. Benton noted: "We are also aware that some customers in the Wincheap area of Canterbury may have been experiencing no water due to a burst water main. This is currently being repaired. In addition, there are approximately 3,600 customers who may be experiencing low pressure or an intermittent supply during the day in the Coxheath, Loose, Headcorn, Ulcombe, Benenden, and Wraik Hill areas. This means that water will go on and off throughout the day, with no water or low pressure at peak times, particularly between 4pm and 7pm. We are sincerely sorry to customers for disruption to their water supply and know how frustrating it is, especially in hot weather."
The company said it had distributed a million litres of water at its bottled water stations across Kent and was working to identify new locations for collection points.
