Britons swelter in heatwave as temperature tests records

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Britons sweltered on what was dubbed “furnace Friday”, after temperatures on Thursday reached 35.3 degrees Celsius at Faversham in Kent, southeast England, officially making it the hottest day of the year so far.

The all-time British record is 38.5 degrees Celcius set in August 2003 near Faversham, while the highest July temperature was 36.7 degrees Celcius in 2015 at London’s Heathrow airport.

Kids play at a water fountain and cooling down on a hot day in London, July 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

Britain’s prolonged heatwave has turned green grass brown, triggered an impending hose pipe ban in the northwest of England, and prompted a warning from the government for people to keep out of the sun.

Farmers have also warned of possible food shortages and hospitals have been stretched by an increase in the number of patients with heat-related ailments.

Baked mud floors can be seen as water levels continue to fall in many of the UK's reservoirs, prompting hose pipe bans in North West England, July 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

On Friday, the heat was seriously disrupting travel across Britain.

EuroTunnel Le Shuttle, which transports cars via a rail tunnel underneath the Channel, warned passengers heading for France from its Folkestone terminal to expect delays of more than two hours due to problems with air conditioning in carriages. The company also cancelled thousands of day trip tickets to ease congestion.

The Met Office said that while Britain is expected to see some rain on Saturday and Sunday, the very hot spell will continue next week, with temperatures expected to rise over 30 degrees Celcius.

Separately, a committee of lawmakers on Thursday said premature deaths from heatwaves in Britain could more than treble to around 7,000 a year by mid-century if the government does not take action.

(Cover image: People sit on parched grass in Glastonbury, southern England, July 24, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters