Britain is set for heavy showers and thunderstorms as temperatures drop by over 10°C following the hottest day on record. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for central and eastern England from 1pm to 9pm on Wednesday, warning of potential disruption.
On Tuesday, a new all-time high of 40.3°C was recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, beating the previous record of 38.7°C in Cambridge three years ago. Scotland also saw its hottest day, with 34.8°C in Charterhall. However, the extreme heat sparked dozens of fires, destroying homes, schools, and churches, with major incidents declared in London, Leicestershire, and South Yorkshire.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said 41 properties were destroyed in the capital. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke promised government support for affected families. In Dagenham, 100 firefighters battled a blaze that wiped out homes and vehicles, while an eight-acre parkland area was damaged. Kent Fire and Rescue Service continues to fight a fire on Dartford Heath.
The heat caused severe disruption to rail services, with dozens of trains cancelled or delayed on Wednesday due to damaged overhead wires, tracks, and signalling systems. National Rail urged passengers to check before travelling and only travel if absolutely necessary, stating that Network Rail teams are working to make repairs.
