The UK is braced for temperatures as high as 41C today, amid increased travel chaos and stark warnings that we are seeing climate change in action.
Much of England remains under the Met Office’s first ever red warning as the country’s historic heatwave emergency continues.
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.
The searing heat this week has already caused significant travel disruption, with Luton Airport forced to suspend flights on Monday because of a defect in the runway caused by high temperatures.
Rachel Ayers, a Met Office forecaster, says Tuesday will be “a pretty unprecedented day”, with the mercury possibly reaching highs of 41C (105.8F) in spots in England.
“This will make it the hottest day on record and the first time we have seen temperatures as high as 40C,” she said.
Scotland and Wales could also see their hottest days on record.
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While Monday did not see a new UK heat record set – it was the third hottest ever – Wales did see a new high mark as temperatures hit 37.1C (98.8F) at Hawarden.
The potential for chaos on Britain’s roads and rails remains, with the public urged not to travel unless “absolutely necessary”.
Ms Ayers added: “There are likely to be delays on roads, with road closures, as well as possible delays and cancellations to trains and maybe issues with air travel.
“This could pose a significant health risk to those stuck on services or roads during the heat.”
A national emergency was declared last week amid the threat of severe disruption as schools close, hospitals cancel appointments and events are scrapped.
Council gritters – awoken from their summer hibernation early – are on stand-by to spread a light dusting of sand on melting roads.
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‘We are now a hot country’
Heatwaves like the one we are experiencing this week will “repeat themselves and get more severe going forward in time”, climate change expert Sir David King told Sky News.
Bob Ward, head of policy and communications director, London School of Economics, told Sky News that the UK “has got to stop thinking of itself as a cold country”.
“In the summer months, we are now a hot country,” he said.
“There is no excuse for the government’s lack of preparedness for this kind of extreme heat event.”
As the country roasts in the baking heat, the issue of the government’s commitment to achieving net-zero has been under scrutiny amid the Tory leadership race.
All four remaining candidates have now publicly backed net-zero, following an apparent U-turn by Kemi Badenoch when questioned by COP26 chief Alok Sharma on Monday.
Mr Sharma has threatened to quit if the new prime minister ditches the current commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Prince Charles has also stressed the necessity of net-zero in light of the heatwave, saying it has “never been more vitally important”.
The outgoing PM Boris Johnson will discuss the heatwave at his last scheduled cabinet meeting today, having been criticised for skipping a COBRA summit over the weekend as he planned his farewell party.
