Temperatures in Britain have risen to their highest level of the year so far, with 34.8 degrees Celsius recorded in Cambridge on Monday, the Met Office said.
The highest temperature recorded in the UK so far in 2024 was 32°C, recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens in southwest London on July 29.
Another sign of the climate crisis is the Met Office’s preliminary report that this is the eleventh year since the 1960s in which temperatures of up to 34.8 degrees Celsius have been recorded, but six of those have occurred in the last decade.
On X it said: “This was the hottest day of 2024 so far. Cambridge recorded 34.8°C today.” “For now, this is only the eleventh year since 1961 that such high temperatures have been recorded.
“Eight of these years have been since 2000 and six of them have been in the last decade.”
The weather service recommends keeping the curtains closed at lunchtime and drinking plenty of water.
The RAC advises motorists to check the coolant and oil levels in their vehicles as high temperatures increase the risk of vehicle breakdowns and vehicle overheating.
The UK Health Safety Authority issued a yellow heat warning for the East and West Midlands, the east of England, the south-east, south-west, north-west and London until 9am on Wednesday.
Craig Snell, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “It will be very wet weather, so it will be quite uncomfortable across central east England.”
“It will remain warm and humid elsewhere, but the hottest weather will be in central east England.”
The heat wave is due to a kink in the jet stream caused by Tropical Storm Debby in the US, which pushed hot air north.
By the middle of the week, temperatures are expected to return to normal levels for the time of year.
West Midlands Police previously said a two-year-old boy had died in hospital after being pulled from a canal in Wolverhampton in hot weather on Sunday afternoon.
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said emergency services found a boy in a critical condition. “Despite all efforts, the child could not be saved. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Elderly and vulnerable citizens have also been urged to put their health and safety first on the warmest day of the year. Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s charity director, said older people with health conditions should stay as cool as possible and advised friends and neighbours to help collect medication or groceries.
She said: ‘Ageing bodies have a hard time dealing with extreme temperatures, so even if you’re someone who’s always loved the warmth, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to cope with a day like today as comfortably and well as you once did.
“It’s worth knowing your body and keeping an eye on how it changes over the years. However, if you have a serious heart or lung condition, it’s especially important to avoid excessive heat.
“There are some simple tips that can help us feel comfortable and safe in the heat, but for most of us it’s mostly a matter of common sense.”
The hottest day on record in the UK was recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire on July 19, 2022, when the mercury reached 40.3°C.
