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The UK recorded its warmest night on record from Monday to Tuesday, according to provisional Met Office figures.
Temperatures did not fall below 25C in places, including 25.8C at Kenley in Croydon, surpassing the previous highest daily minimum record of 23.9C recorded in Brighton on August 3, 1990.
The warmest night on record is set to turn into London’s hottest day with temperatures forecast to reach 40C amid growing travel chaos.
Transport for London (TfL) said the capital’s rail network will run reduced services due to safety restrictions put in place to cope with the heat. Just before 7am, there were severe delays on the Central, District and Metropolitan lines, while the Hammersmith and City line was completely stopped, and there were also delays on the London Overground and Elizabeth Line.
It comes after the mercury hit a peak of 38.1C in Santon Downham, Suffolk on Monday, making it the hottest day of the year and the third hottest day on record, after 38.7C in Cambridge in 2019 and 38.5C in Feversham, Kent, in August 2003.
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Britons have been urged to stay inside during the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 4pm, and to wear sunscreen, a hat, stay in the shade and stay hydrated – and there are warnings for swimming in lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
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The UK’s warmest night on record, according to provisional figures
The UK has experienced its warmest night on record, according to preliminary Met Office figures.
Temperatures did not fall below 25C in places, including 25.8C recorded at Kenley in Croydon, surpassing the previous highest daily low of 23.9C recorded in Brighton on August 3, 1990.
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Ice cream sales jumped 14 percent, according to Kantar
Retail research firm Kantar said supermarkets saw a 14 per cent jump in ice cream sales and a 66 per cent increase in sun protection products in the month to July 10 as Britons witnessed soaring temperatures.
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Cabinet minister: UK transport system can’t cope with extreme heat
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted the UK’s transport network could not cope with the extreme heat.
He told people to “use common sense” and “depending on the nature of your trip and the reason for it, you may want to consider rearranging your day around it.”
He told BBC Breakfast: “We’ve seen significant travel disruption, we’re likely to see the UK’s hottest day on record today and the infrastructure, much of it built in Victorian times, just wasn’t built to withstand that kind of temperature .
“It will be many years before we can replace the infrastructure with one that could because the temperatures are so extreme.”
Asked if the transit system could handle the weather, he said: “The simple answer right now is no.”
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London council warns against littering after grass fire in Hayes
Hillingdon Council is warning residents not to litter during the extreme heatwave following a grass fire in Hayes.
The council tweeted: “Please take extra care in this hot weather not to leave anything such as glass and bottles which could cause a grass fire.
“Do not drop cigarettes on dry ground or through car windows, please dispose of them carefully.”
Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to deal with a grass fire in Cranford Park on Monday evening.
Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control, but said grass the size of four football fields was damaged in the flames.
A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: “Many grass fires are avoidable, with the most common causes being carelessly discarded cigarettes and matches, unattended barbecues and glass bottles left on dry grass.
“We are also concerned that some grass fires are being started deliberately and ask parents to talk to their children about the dangers of starting fires.”
They also said there was a fire on Woolwich Common, also believed to be the result of human littering, as temperatures soared on Monday.
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Slight increase in seizure frequency and heat exposure, LAS director says
Brian Jordan, director of 999 operations for London Ambulance Service, said the service saw a slight increase in calls about fainting and heat exposure on Monday.
The service received 6,600 emergency calls yesterday, slightly less than predicted.
“We really hope it’s because the public have really listened to the messages about how they can look after themselves and only call 999 if it’s a real emergency,” Mr Jordan told the BBC’s Today program Radio 4.
“People had a very long day yesterday and there were high temperatures overnight and with even higher temperatures today, I cannot stress enough that people should continue to do what we asked them to do yesterday – avoid prolonged sun exposure, maintain hydrated, look after more vulnerable friends, family, neighbors and use sunscreen etc.
He added: “As yesterday afternoon progressed we saw a slight increase in the frequency of seizures and exposure to heat.”
Mr Jordan said the service expected to see “a build-up of illness due to the continued heat overnight and even warmer temperatures coming in today … we just need to make sure that even after the peak temperatures, everyone continues to follow this advice “.
Ambulances were not waiting outside hospitals any longer than usual on Monday, he added.
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Only travel if necessary, TfL warns
Transport for London (TfL) is advising customers to only travel if necessary on Tuesday 19 July due to high temperatures forecast.
The Met Office has issued its first red high heat warning for parts of the UK, including London, with temperatures forecast to reach 40C later in the day.
As a precaution, temporary speed limits have been put in place on parts of the tube and rail network, meaning reduced services and may mean journeys take longer than usual.
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Shapps is depending on the Prime Minister’s leadership during a heatwave
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has insisted Boris Johnson did not leave Number 10 earlier as the Prime Minister has been criticized for not playing a direct enough role in tackling the heatwave.
He told Sky News: “That’s literally not true, in fact the exact opposite is true.”
Shown the Prime Minister’s ride in a Typhoon fighter jet at the Farnborough Air Show on Monday, Mr Shapps defended the flight.
“Ultimately, he is responsible for Britain’s security,” Mr Shapps said.
“There is a war going on in Europe. Why on earth didn’t he go and meet the RAF?’
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A look at today’s forecast
The Met Office posted a weather forecast for Tuesday on their Twitter feed.
Here are the details below:
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Cabinet minister: Rail and roads could take ‘decades’ to become more resilient during extreme heat
Transport Minister Grant Shapps said rail and road problems would continue for decades during extreme heat.
Asked how long it would take to upgrade the existing rail infrastructure to make it more sustainable, he told Sky News: “Decades actually to replace everything.
“It’s the same with the asphalt on the roads.
“There’s a long process of replacing it and upgrading it to withstand temperatures, either very hot or sometimes much colder than we’re used to, and those are the effects of global warming.”
He said there was no Cobra meeting scheduled for Tuesday and the prime minister was chairing the cabinet instead.
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“Unprecedented Day”
The Met Office has warned that the heatwave could peak with record temperatures on Tuesday.
Met Office forecaster Rachel Ayers said: “Temperatures will be very hot throughout the day before rising to 40C, perhaps even 41C in isolated places across England during the afternoon.
“That would make it the hottest day on record and the first time we’ve seen temperatures of 40C.”
Scotland and Wales could also see their hottest days on record.
Ms Ayers added: “There are likely to be delays on the roads, with road closures, as well as possible train delays and cancellations and perhaps problems with air transport.
“This could pose a significant health risk to those stuck on services or roads during the heat.”
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