By Charlotte Webster-
Brits have been advised to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm and avoid physical exertion, drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol
The warning comes as temperatures hit 39.1C (102.4F) in Charlwood, Surrey – a new all-time UK record for the Uk. The warning is especially directed to children and the elderly, but adults are also advised to avoid the extreme heat today as much as possible.
Many people are expected to ignore the warnings and flock to beaches across the country to enjoy the sun, and make the most of the extreme weather which will be too hot for many people, but a summer’s dream for others. The hottest Uk heat wave in July was in 1983, but was eventually beaten was beaten in 2006. hottest month on record, with some areas as hot as 32.8C.
The same month saw the heat in the U.S as high as 38 °C (100 °F) in cities like Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and certain parts of Kentucky.
The 1906 United Kingdom heat wave which began in August and lasted into September was a record breaker at the time , as temperatures reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F)- still the September record.
The 1911 United Kingdom heat wave produced one of the hottest of heat waves , with temperatures around 36 °C (97 °F).
The heat began in early July and didn’t let up until mid September where even in September temperatures were still up to 33 °C (91 °F). It took 79 years for temperature higher to be recorded in the United. Rail users have been warned of delays and cancellations as the heat takes its toll on the country’s infrastructure, while health worries remain amid the baking temperatures.
United Kingdom face one of its hottest summers in 1976, in which it also suffered a severe drought, and it was one of the driest, sunniest weathers this century.
Travel will be affected by the hot weather and there will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains running in any location north of London, from London Blackfriars via St Pancras, or from London King’s Cross or London Moorgate.
Merseyrail said the number of trains running and journey times will be “seriously affected” and some routes closed completely.
LNER will run no trains from south of York and south of Leeds to London King’s Cross.
Southern, Southeastern, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway are among the dozens of train companies running significantly reduced services across the country.
The previous record was 38.7C (101.7F), set in 2019 at Cambridge Botanic Garden.
Temperatures as high as 41C (105.8F) are forecast today, with much of England still under the first ever red weather warning.
The night-time record was broken overnight, as Kenley in Surrey hit 25.8C (78.4F).
UK currently hotter than 98.8% of the planet – heatwave latest