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The UK is facing travel disruptions, schools closed and health warnings as the country prepares for extreme heat over the next two days, correspondent Ian Woods reports.
The UK is suffocating when its first extreme red heat warning went into effect on Monday.
Wales has already broken temperatures for its hottest day in history, while mercury reached 37.5 ºC in Cavendish, Suffolk at 3pm, making it the hottest day in the world. the year.
Tuesday is expected to be even hotter, with possible temperatures reaching 41ºC in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
The UK’s existing record of 38.7 ºC, set in Cambridge in 2019, looks set to fall amid suffocating heat.
Rising temperatures have forced the UK Health Safety Agency to issue a level 4 heat health alert, described as an “emergency”, while the Met Office has issued the first red extreme heat warning of the United Kingdom, both in operation from Monday to Wednesday.
People have been urged to take extra precautions during the heat wave, and citizens have been urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary, bring water at all times and watch for signs of heat exhaustion.
Police also begged people not to cool off in reservoirs, rivers or ponds after a 13-year-old in Northumbria, a 16-year-old in Maidenhead and a 16-year-old in Greater Manchester drowned while swimming in water. open.
A person walks along a dry bank of a tributary of the Dowry Reservoir near Oldham, while the heat wave in the UK continues.
The body of a 50-year-old man was recovered Sunday from Ardsley Reservoir, between Leeds and Wakefield.
Drivers have been urged to travel during the cooler hours of the day, while passengers have been told to check that their train service runs before the journey, as dozens of railway operators have canceled the services or have warned of delays.
Luton Airport reportedly had to divert flights after high temperatures melted the surface of its runway. Flight activity also stopped at RAF Brize Norton amid the heat wave.
ITV News weather presenter Lucy Verasamy says we are witnessing a “historic heat wave”
The chief meteorologist of the meteorological office, Paul Davies, warned that Monday night will be “very oppressive” and that it will be “difficult” to sleep with the heat.
The best forecaster said he was “very worried” that the UK would reach 40 or 41 C on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Met Office’s climate attribution scientist, Dr. Nikos Christidis, said the prediction of the 1940s is the result of climate change.
People have been urged to avoid wasting water, especially in the back gardens.
Thames Water’s water demand reduction manager Andrew Tucker told customers to be careful with water use, as the heat wave has caused demand to be “close to record level “.
Tucker told BBC Radio 4 that Thames Water is not currently considering any water restrictions, but that could change if there is little rain in the coming months.
“Our call is basically‘ stay hydrated, take care of your health, but use water very carefully and don’t waste it, ’” he added.
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Ministers held a Cobra virtual emergency meeting on Saturday to launch a contingency plan for the country after meteorologists warned that record high temperatures could endanger lives.
Boris Johnson faced criticism for not attending the meeting and spending the weekend partying at Checkers.
Labor leader Lisa Nandy accused the outgoing prime minister and his ministers of being “switched off” during the UK’s first red heat warning.
In defense of Mr Johnson, Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse told Sky News: “It is my job to chair the Cobra meetings. I personally informed him yesterday morning around 8am.
While the station showed aerial images of Mr. Johnson with his guests at Checkers, Mr. Malthouse said it was “completely unfair” to suggest the prime minister was avoiding important meetings because he would leave work soon.
After the Cobra meeting, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said emergency services were already starting to see an increase in call volume, but on Tuesday afternoon it was the “point of greatest concern” as the highest expected point of the heat wave.
Additional contingency support has been launched for ambulance services, such as more call handlers and additional working hours.
The British are asked to bring water and sunscreen at all times. Credit: PA
On Monday, Downing Street said the NHS is “coping well” with the extreme heat and no deaths have been reported centrally at this stage.
However, Milton Keynes University Hospital has canceled routine outpatient and surgical appointments on Monday and Tuesday, while Lord Victor Adebowale, president of the NHS Confederation, told Times Radio that the hospitals will be “very, very pushed “over the next few days.
Schools in several counties, including Nottinghamshire and Hampshire, have confirmed they will not open on Monday and Tuesday following health warnings.