Two women try to cool off due to the high temperatures in London. Photo: AP
The UK recorded its hottest day on Tuesday, with a record temperature of 39.1 degreesbut the thermometer is expected to rise higher, according to provisional data provided by the country’s Meteorological Office (Met, in English).
the place with 39.1 degrees were recorded in the city of Charlwoodin the county of Surrey, west of London, for which the country surpasses the last record of 2019, with 38.7 degrees.
Much of England is now on red alert for the heat wave, while the rest of the UK remains amber in color – one before red – for rising temperatures.
A man refreshes himself in a fountain in London to try to get some relief from the record heat in the UK. Photo: AP
These temperatures are “exceptional” in that they can impact “people and infrastructure,” the Met said.
The authorities have asked the population to maintain a high level of hydration, to close the tents in the house and not to expose themselves to the sun in broad daylight, and also to avoid traveling unless absolutely essential.
In the case of the British capital, Transport to London (TfL), which manages the city’s transport network, He also asked that people not travel unless it is essential.as it anticipates cancellations and delays on subway trains.
Several rail services, in particular connections between London and the north of England, have been canceled.
Rail transport is one of the items most affected by the UK heat wave. Photo: AP
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Britain’s transport infrastructure, some of which date back to the Victorian era, “they are simply not made to withstand these kinds of temperaturesand it will take many years before we can replace them with the kind of infrastructure that could. “
On Monday, the British Luton Airport, north of London, was forced to temporarily suspend flightsboth at the start and at the finish, due to damage to part of the track due to high temperatures.
Europe, a continent on fire
Unusually hot and dry weather has gripped much of the continent since last week, sparking fires from Portugal to the Balkans and causing hundreds of heat-related deaths.
The images of flames on a French beach and of the British choking, even on the beach, have raised concerns about climate change.
The British meteorological agency Met Office also reported that provisional data showed this the temperature remained above 25 degrees centigrade overnight for the first time in some parts of the country.
Climate experts warn that global warming has increased the frequency of extreme weather events.
Studies show that the likelihood of temperatures in the UK reaching 40 degrees Celsius is now 10 times higher than in the pre-industrial era.
Drought and heat waves linked to climate change have also made fighting fires more difficult.
Source: EFE and AP
Source: Clarin
