Stay out of the sun! Met Office issues two EXTREME heat warnings

Baking Britain faces WILDFIRE alert for Devon and Cornwall as killer 90F heatwave continues…before thunderstorms bring FLOODS and transport chaos at weekend

  • Met Office has issued two extreme weather warnings as Britain’s heatwave makes way for thunderstorms 
  • Forecasters said conditions will be hottest in the South and warned sun-seekers to beware of sunburn today
  • Searing temperatures to be replaced by rain and storms spreading from the South West on Friday night
  • Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain in central and southern parts of England and Wales
  • Potential impacts including some flooding as well as poor travel conditions due to surface water

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Parts of Britain were put on high alert for wildfires today as Britain’s killer 90F (32C) heatwave that has led to a spate of tragic drownings this week continues until tomorrow before making way for weekend thunderstorms.

Residents of Devon and Cornwall were warned that ‘some ignitions are possible’ particularly in cut grass and crops, with daytime wind speeds at 15mph from the East tomorrow which ‘could be troublesome’.

Forecasters said conditions will be hottest in the South, and warned sun-seekers to beware of sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration, nausea, fatigue and other heat-related illnesses before rain and storms spread from the South West across much of England and Wales from tomorrow night.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in central and southern parts of England and Wales, forecasting ‘widespread and locally torrential’ downpours on Sunday, with four inches due to hammer some locations ‘in a short period of time’, and even lightning and hail expected at the weekend.

Potential impacts including the chance of some flooding as well as poor travel conditions due to surface water, meteorologists said. The warning will be in force from early on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.

Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘Conditions are currently predicted to ease at the weekend with some rainfall in the forecast. Some ignitions are possible, resulting in moderate to high wildfires, particularly in cut grass and crops.

‘The daytime winds are variable in both speed and direction rising to around 25kph (15mph) from the East on Friday. These could be troublesome if there is an ignition. The relative humidity may drop below 50 per cent on occasions.’

It comes amid a series of wildfires which have hit the South West of England already this year, while a fire ravaged through Dartmoor in February which was suspected to have been an arson today.

The Environment Agency put out five flood warnings – all of them in Greater London. It comes as western areas of the UK continue to deal with an amber extreme heat warning that is currently in force, with temperatures regularly getting up to 90F in places.

The extreme heat warning is due to expire for the southwest, a large area of Wales and parts of southern and central England tonight, while Northern Ireland’s extreme heat warning will expire tomorrow night.   

Families continued to flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as southern England experiences very hot temperatures

Families continued to flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as southern England experiences very hot temperatures

Families continued to flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as southern England experiences very hot temperatures 

Forecasters said conditions will be hottest in the South and warned sun-seekers to beware of sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration, nausea, fatigue and other heat-related illnesses. The heat is set to continue today and tomorrow, to be replaced by rain and storms spreading from the South West on Friday night

Forecasters said conditions will be hottest in the South and warned sun-seekers to beware of sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration, nausea, fatigue and other heat-related illnesses. The heat is set to continue today and tomorrow, to be replaced by rain and storms spreading from the South West on Friday night

Forecasters said conditions will be hottest in the South and warned sun-seekers to beware of sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration, nausea, fatigue and other heat-related illnesses. The heat is set to continue today and tomorrow, to be replaced by rain and storms spreading from the South West on Friday night

An extremely busy Towan Beach in Newquay in Cornwall enjoy searing heat and sunshine today

An extremely busy Towan Beach in Newquay in Cornwall enjoy searing heat and sunshine today

An extremely busy Towan Beach in Newquay in Cornwall enjoy searing heat and sunshine today

One woman takes a picture of another at Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as people enjoy the heatwave

One woman takes a picture of another at Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as people enjoy the heatwave

One woman takes a picture of another at Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as people enjoy the heatwave

People on the beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire this afternoon as the hot weather continues

People on the beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire this afternoon as the hot weather continues

People on the beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire this afternoon as the hot weather continues

A steam train passes as sunseekers flock to the beach at Goodrington in Devon this afternoon

A steam train passes as sunseekers flock to the beach at Goodrington in Devon this afternoon

A steam train passes as sunseekers flock to the beach at Goodrington in Devon this afternoon

Festivalgoers in the sunshine at the campsite at the Latitude festival at Henham Park in Southwold, Suffolk, today

Festivalgoers in the sunshine at the campsite at the Latitude festival at Henham Park in Southwold, Suffolk, today

Festivalgoers in the sunshine at the campsite at the Latitude festival at Henham Park in Southwold, Suffolk, today

People on the beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire this afternoon as the heatwave continues

People on the beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire this afternoon as the heatwave continues

People on the beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire this afternoon as the heatwave continues

People sit outside beach huts in the sunshine at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire this afternoon

People sit outside beach huts in the sunshine at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire this afternoon

People sit outside beach huts in the sunshine at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire this afternoon

People in the sea at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire today as the heat continues but is expected to end on Saturday

People in the sea at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire today as the heat continues but is expected to end on Saturday

People in the sea at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire today as the heat continues but is expected to end on Saturday

Met Office Deputy Chief Operational Meteorologist David Oliver said: ‘This yellow rain warning comes as temperatures are set to dip for many areas over the weekend. A spell of rain, heavy in places perhaps with some thunder, moves in from the southwest late on Friday and into Saturday. 

‘This is followed up by an unsettled weekend for much of England and Wales with showers breaking out widely. Some very heavy showers or thunderstorms are on the cards, especially during Sunday. However, farther north it is set to stay mainly dry with some fine weather, although it will not be as hot as has been seen recently.’ 

How temperatures in Britain have now hit 31C (88F) for six days in a row

  • Today: 87.8F (31C) at Staverton, Gloucestershire
  • Yesterday: 88.3F (31.3C) at Castlederg, N Ireland
  • Tuesday, July 20: 90F (32.2C) at London Heathrow 
  • Monday, July 19: 88.5F (31.4C) at London Heathrow 
  • Sunday, July 18: 88.9F (31.6C) at London Heathrow 
  • Saturday, July 17: 88.2F (31.2C) at Ballywatticock, NI
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The unsettled conditions are set to continue for much of the UK into next week, with showers or longer spells of rain set to affect many areas, although still with some drier, sunnier spells.  

Northern Ireland yesterday provisionally saw its highest temperature on record, with 88.3F at Castlederg in County Tyrone. Its previous all-time record of 88.2F was only set last Saturday. 

By 4pm, the top UK temperature elsewhere was 87.8 in Exeter, followed by 86.9F at North Wyke in Devon and 86F in London. The high at 9am was 72F in London, Cardiff, Norwich and Manchester. 

The heat was also causing travel disruption, with Chiltern Railways saying severely high track temperatures meant that trains could not run between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire until 6.30pm. 

Meanwhile hail the size of golf balls has damaged roofs and car bonnets in Leicestershire. And the number of lives lost in the water during the heatwave rose to 13 as the body of a teenage boy was pulled from the River Trent.

The UK had its hottest temperature of the year on Tuesday – 90F – recorded at London Heathrow Airport. The previous high for 2021 was 88.9F, which was also recorded at the airport on Sunday.

The current extreme heat warning coincides with Public Health England’s Heat Health Alert through to Friday, reflecting the risks to the health sector in England. 

The Met Office has issued two extreme weather warnings as Britain's killer 90F heatwave that has led to a spate of drownings this week continues today and tomorrow

The Met Office has issued two extreme weather warnings as Britain's killer 90F heatwave that has led to a spate of drownings this week continues today and tomorrow

The Met Office has issued two extreme weather warnings as Britain's killer 90F heatwave that has led to a spate of drownings this week continues today and tomorrow

The Met Office has issued two extreme weather warnings as Britain's killer 90F heatwave that has led to a spate of drownings this week continues today and tomorrow

The Met Office has issued two extreme weather warnings as Britain’s killer 90F heatwave that has led to a spate of drownings this week continues today and tomorrow

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in central and southern parts of England and Wales

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in central and southern parts of England and Wales

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in central and southern parts of England and Wales

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in central and southern parts of England and Wales

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in central and southern parts of England and Wales, forecasting ‘widespread and locally torrential’ downpours on Sunday 

The cliff lift at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire which is a popular spot for sunseekers today

The cliff lift at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire which is a popular spot for sunseekers today

The cliff lift at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire which is a popular spot for sunseekers today

People in boats on the River Thames in Windsor, Berkshire, this afternoon as they enjoy the hot weather

People in boats on the River Thames in Windsor, Berkshire, this afternoon as they enjoy the hot weather

People in boats on the River Thames in Windsor, Berkshire, this afternoon as they enjoy the hot weather

People make the most of the hot weather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset today

People make the most of the hot weather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset today

People make the most of the hot weather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset today

A busy Towan Beach crowded with holidaymakers enjoying their summer holiday in Newquay, Cornwall, today

A busy Towan Beach crowded with holidaymakers enjoying their summer holiday in Newquay, Cornwall, today

A busy Towan Beach crowded with holidaymakers enjoying their summer holiday in Newquay, Cornwall, today

People enjoying the summer weather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset today

People enjoying the summer weather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset today

People enjoying the summer weather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset today

Members of the new guard of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards arrive for the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle today

Members of the new guard of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards arrive for the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle today

Members of the new guard of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards arrive for the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle today

Water levels continue to drop at the Llwyn Onn reservoir in South Wales, pictured today, as the heatwave continues

Water levels continue to drop at the Llwyn Onn reservoir in South Wales, pictured today, as the heatwave continues

Water levels continue to drop at the Llwyn Onn reservoir in South Wales, pictured today, as the heatwave continues

Dr Owen Landeg, Scientific and Technical Lead at PHE, said: ‘Everybody can be affected by high temperatures and most people are aware of good health advice for coping with hot weather. 

How to survive the heat 

  • Stay cool indoors – many of us will need to stay safe at home so know how to keep your home cool
  • Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors 
  • Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol
  • Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals
  • Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm
  • Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a wide brimmed hat, if you have to go out in the heat
  • Avoid exercising in the hottest parts of the day
  • Make sure you take water with you if you are travelling
  • If you are going into open water to cool down, take care and follow local safety advice
  • If you or someone else feels unwell with a high temperature during hot weather, it may be heat exhaustion or heatstroke 
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‘However, it’s important to keep checking on those who are most vulnerable such as older people and those with heart or lung conditions.

‘As we experience the first hot weather episode of the year, it’s important for everyone to remember to adapt their behaviours. This is particularly important during the pandemic with many people self-isolating.

‘Most of us want to enjoy the sun. Remember to look out for signs of heat exhaustion and follow our simple health advice to beat the heat.’

Meteorologist Tom Morgan said that while some areas within the yellow warning zone could see a month’s worth of rain, the storms were unlikely to be as bad as those seen on Tuesday. 

Windows were smashed and gardens ‘flattened’ by hail in some areas, with residents describing the hailstones in Kibworth, Leicestershire, as ‘tennis ball sized’.

Mr Morgan said: ‘In contrast to yesterday when it was really torrential downpours and heavy hail, the weekend weather is just going to be more generally wet.’ 

Meanwhile, emergency services have urged people to be aware of the dangers of going into open water following 12 confirmed water-related deaths in the last four days. 

Derbyshire Police said the body of a 15-year-old boy has been recovered from a stretch of the River Trent in Swarkestone after he got into difficulty while swimming in the water on Tuesday.

West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to Stocking Lane in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, at 5.28pm on Tuesday and recovered the body of a 15-year-old boy, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Merseyside Police said that a man had died and two others were taken to hospital following an incident at Crosby Beach. The force said officers were called at around 7.10pm on Tuesday following reports of three men in their 20s getting into difficulties in the sea. 

As of 6am, the Environment Agency put out five flood warnings - all of them in Greater London

As of 6am, the Environment Agency put out five flood warnings - all of them in Greater London

As of 6am, the Environment Agency put out five flood warnings – all of them in Greater London

The Met Office has issued two extreme weather warnings as Britain's scorching 90F heatwave this week makes way for thunderstorms and torrential downpours over the weekend

The Met Office has issued two extreme weather warnings as Britain's scorching 90F heatwave this week makes way for thunderstorms and torrential downpours over the weekend

The Met Office has issued two extreme weather warnings as Britain’s scorching 90F heatwave this week makes way for thunderstorms and torrential downpours over the weekend

Two teenagers died in water in Greater Manchester and Oxfordshire on Sunday, a man in his 50s in North Yorkshire, and a man in his 20s in Sheffield. On Monday, the body of a man was recovered from a lake at Pugneys Country Park in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

In Dorset, a man died after falling from rocks on Sunday.

Amber extreme heat warnings remain in place across parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland until Friday night. Mr Morgan said that temperatures will begin to cool down slightly on Thursday and Friday with the mercury dropping on Friday.

Local authorities have reported having to carry out urgent repairs to roads which have melted in the heat. Gloucestershire Council Council said that ’emergency work’ has been carried out on the A38 in Tewkesbury.

Somerset County Council said on Twitter that a number of roads had been affected by the heat and that a sunny day with temperatures of around 68F can be enough to heat the roads to 122F.

Public Health England has also extended its heat-health warning, which warns people to take measures to stay cool and look out for vulnerable people, until Friday. 

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