U.K. Breaks All-Time Record Temperature as Extreme Heat Moves Through Europe

Posted: July 20, 2022 1:41 pm

Heat Will Begin to Ease in Coming Days Moving From West to East

Much of Europe is under record-breaking heat with over 1,000 deaths attributed to the extreme weather. Here is the latest on the dire weather situation in this corner of the world.

U.K. Breaks All-Time Record

The United Kingdom set an all-time temperature record on Tuesday when the mercury climbed to 102.4 degrees by the middle of the day. In addition, the U.K. Met Office reported a high of 104 degrees at London Heathrow Airport just before 1 pm local time. A few hours later, the Met Office reported a reading of 104.5 degrees in Coningsby, England. The previous record for the country was 102 degrees, set back in July of 2019 in Cambridge Botanic Garden.

Up in Wales, the country recorded its warmest day ever on record on Monday when the temperature hit 98.8 degrees in Hawarden. Scotland also recorded a new provisional record when the mercury climbed to 94.6 degrees in Charterhall on Tuesday. Officials with the Met Office are warning residents that more records are expected to fall throughout the region as the heat sets in.

Although these readings may not seem all that extreme for Americans that are used to dealing with temperatures in the triple digits throughout the summer months, it is important to keep in mind that very few homes in the U.K. enjoy air conditioning. The average temperature reading in London during the middle of July is only 70 degrees.

Searing Heat Fuels House Fires in London

The heat is contributing to an increasing number of house fires throughout London. A major incident was declared on Tuesday by the London Fire Brigade as fires broke out in alarming numbers across the capital city. London Mary Sadiq Khan urged residents to not take any unnecessary risks as fire officials worked to respond to all of the emergency calls.

In addition to the heat, air quality conditions have also worsened throughout the region as the temperature soared upwards. An area of high pressure is trapping pollutants and irritants in the lower layers of the atmosphere, making air quality levels fall to poor readings across some parts of the U.K. This deteriorating air quality is exacerbating the danger to vulnerable populations that are already struggling with the heat.

Heat to Blame for Over 1,000 Deaths in Spain and Portugal

The heat that the U.K. is feeling early this week has also been blazing across the Iberian Peninsula in recent days. Officials are blaming the extreme heat for over 1,100 fatalities across Portugal and Spain.

Travel across Europe has been impacted due to the rising temperatures. Spain was forced to suspend some train services between Madrid and Galicia because of a wildfire growing too close to the tracks. Elsewhere, residents of Wales and England were advised not to travel during the peak of the heat this week because many routes were already canceled. The extreme heat makes steel train tracks more likely to buckle, meaning that trains that are leaving as planned are forced to travel slower. This leads to substantial delays as routes fall behind schedule.

The heat has also been a serious issue in France. This country is dealing with wildfires that have engulfed the southwestern corner of the country, forcing the evacuation of about 37,000 people. A third wildfire is now burning in the Gironde region of western France. Over 47,000 acres have already been scorched by two earlier fires in this region.

The central regions of Castile and Léon in Spain have also been under the threat of dangerous wildfires. At least two people have lost their lives as a result of fires in Spain. A government spokesperson said that over 172,000 acres have burned in Spain so far this year with about 8,000 evacuations.

When Will the Heat Begin to Abate?

There is relief in sight in the coming days. Forecasters are predicting that the heat will begin to decrease throughout Western Europe by the middle and latter parts of the week. However, temperatures will still hover above average for the next several days.

While the heat will begin to abate in western Europe by Wednesday, the middle of the week will likely be the warmest part of the summer for Germany. Forecasters are predicting that the high temperatures will come and go all summer with more heat waves almost a certainty for much of Europe.

Did you find this content useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline for reference later!

Recent Posts