UK weather – live: Heatwave rail disruption and NHS ‘surge’ expected with chance of 40C

Train passengers are being warned of major disruption from extreme heat on rail lines as ministers said the NHS was braced for a “surge” in demand.

Avanti West Coast warned passengers travelling between London Euston and Scotland that services could be cancelled at short notice over the weekend, with delays and changes to timetables on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the government said it was preparing for a surge in demand on the NHS and other services due to a forecast of potentially record-breaking temperatures next week.

After a meeting of the Cobra committee this afternoon, Kit Malthouse, the Cabinet Office minister, said the government will also focus on spreading awareness of the risks of extreme heat and advise people to check on vulnerable family and neighbours.

The Met Office forecasts temperatures of 35C in some parts of the UK from Sunday to Tuesday, with some models suggesting Britain may see 40C heat.

The forecaster has issued an updated “amber” extreme heat warning for much of England and Wales over the three-day period.

Key Points

• Train journeys may be cut and NHS braced for ‘surge’

• Met Office extends danger to life warning until Tuesday

• Record 40C heat not out of the question

• Heatwaves are getting worse – what role does climate change play?

• Farmers warn of scorched crops as reservoirs dry up in heatwave

A pleasant Friday before temperature heats up this weekend

08:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Friday will begin with outbreaks of showery rain moving south-east across northern and central areas of the UK.

Meanwhile, people in the south and south west can expect warm sunshine.

London is forecast to experience 26C on Friday, while 23C is predicted for Cardiff, 20C in Belfast and 19C in Edinburgh.

Girl ‘came home crying and sick’ after doing PE in heatwave

07:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A nine-year-old girl was left in tears and vomited after doing a PE lesson in this week’s heatwave, according to her mother.

Collette Elliott told The Independent her daughter, Codey, passed out within half an hour of returning home poorly from school on Monday.

She said she was “fuming” after being told primary school pupils had been left to decide for themselves whether to sit out PE in the heat.

Zoe Tidman has more:

Girl ‘came home crying and sick’ after doing PE in heatwave

Schools to send students home early due to heatwave

07:07 , Namita Singh

Schools have decided to send children home early as the Met Office has warned against extreme heat next week.

“We are also giving parents the option to keep children at home on Monday,” said a letter to parents at Marlbrook, Little Dewchurch and St Martin’s Primary School, reported the Telegraph.

“Already, many classrooms are very hot, even with fans, and students are struggling to keep cool, drink enough water and maintain concentration in lessons,” the head teacher of Clapton Girls’ Academy informed parents in a letter as the school decided to send pupils home by 12.30pm on Monday and Tuesday.

The struggle of differently abled during heatwave

06:48 , Namita Singh

As the UK bakes with the extreme heatwave, it is causing more challenges for those with disabilities.

BBC’s Access All podcast presenter Emma Tracey, who has been blind since birth, tells the public broadcaster that though the heat doesn’t directly affect her, it is tough to protect herself from the sun’s rays when she wants to get out and about.

She does not “wear sunglasses because they dim my light perception”, she says, adding: “I normally look at the darkness of objects either side of me to keep myself in a straight line, that’s less easy with sunglasses on.”

She is also dependent on echolocation - listening to sounds bouncing off nearby hard surfaces to judge her spatial location. But to be able to do that, she has to do away with hats, another vital sun protection, as they “mess up” her sound shadows.

“I don’t wear a hat because it messes up my sound shadows. When I wear a sunhat, with a brim or a peak, that changes the sounds I hear and makes it more difficult to get the information I need from my surroundings,” she says.

Those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are also finding it hard to cope with the heatwave.

While MS thwarts brain signals from reaching other parts of body, they are further disrupted as temperatures rises.

“For many people, their symptoms get worse - balance, fatigue and changes to vision - which can be difficult to deal with,” says Dr Sarah Rawlings from the MS Society.

How to stay cool in a heatwave

06:35 , Namita Singh

An unprecedented heatwave has hit the UK, with the Met Office saying the heat could rise above 40C, breaking the record of Britain’s hottest ever temperature of 38.7C, measured in Cambridge in 2019.

The NHS has published some guidelines to help people struggling with the heat, suggesting staying indoors between 11am and 3pm, and closing the curtains on rooms that face the sun.

People who need to go to the office should walk in the shade, apply sunscreen regularly and drink plenty of fluids, the health service said.

Climate change means UK’s heat record could be broken less than three years after it was set

06:15 , Namita Singh

For 80 years, the summer of 1911 held the record as the hottest in the UK after temperatures peaked at 36.7C on 9 August in Raunds in Northamptonshire.

Deaths increased, with The Times writing a regular column on Deaths from Heat, while water supplies were cut off for several hours each day in cities such as Manchester and Bradford. Factory and mill workers were laid off due to water shortages and parched land for grazing led to an increase in the price of milk.

Decades later, the record was eventually broken in the summer of 1990 when the maximum temperature reached 37.1C in the Gloucestershire town of Cheltenham. Since then, the 1911 record of 36.7C has been met or exceeded four times, and a further two highest temperature records have been set.

“High-temperature records are being reached or exceeded more frequently, and we’re repeatedly exceeding temperatures from extreme heatwaves from our past,” said Mark McCarthy, a climate scientist at the Met Office.

“This is a consequence of human-induced climate change which is warming the climate of the UK, Europe and the world.”

As Britain swelters once again, climate scientists have repeatedly said that heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer and hotter due to climate change, reports my colleague Saphora Smith:

Climate change means UK’s heat record could be broken

Climate change mean UK’s heat record could be broken less than three years after it was set

05:55 , Namita Singh

Avanti West Coast warned passengers of major disruption, advising those travelling between London Euston and Scotland to plan ahead due to the impact of heat on rail lines.

The company tweeted on Thursday that services may be cancelled on short notice on Saturday and Sunday.

It also warned that services on Monday and Tuesday will be subject to amended timetables and extended journey times.

Steel rails absorb heat easily and tend to hover around 20 degrees above the surrounding air temperature, according to Network Rail.

With temperatures as high as 37C (98F) expected in London early next week, the hot weather - particularly direct sunlight - could cause track temperatures to reach up to 50C.

In such conditions, rails can bend, flex and, in some cases, buckle from the heat.

Trains, therefore, run at slower speeds in extremely hot weather to put less strain on the rails.

Network Rail’s west coast south route director James Dean said: “Keeping passengers moving is always our top priority. But we want people to be prepared.”

James Dean

Look out for people vulnerable in heat: Kit Malthouse

05:15 , Namita Singh

Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse urged the public to look out for people who are particularly vulnerable in the heat.

“The key thing we can do is prepare the government services for what may be a surge in demand – not least the health service and elsewhere – but also critically communicate that the first line of defence is actually individual behavioural change,” he said.

“People need to take care, do all the stuff they would do when it is very hot – wear a hat, drink water – but critically also (with) the most vulnerable groups – the elderly, those with cardiovascular problems and the very young – that people look out for them and take care.

“We are asking people if they have an elderly neighbour, particularly if they live alone, it would be a neighbourly thing to check up on them and make sure they are looking after themselves and have access to water.

“The current forecast is that we will be in the mid to high-30s but there is a smaller possibility that we could exceed that and possibly hit 40 which would be an all-time record.”

My colleague Alastair Jamieson reports:

Heatwave rail disruption warning as NHS is braced for demand ‘surge’

Hospital and train services to face pressure from heatwave

04:55 , Namita Singh

Hospital and train services are under pressure from the heat, with the NHS facing a “surge” in demand from heat-related admissions, and Avanti West Coast has warned their services may be cancelled at the last minute.

Avanti West Coast has warned passengers who wish to use services between London Euston and Scotland to plan ahead due to the impact of the heat on rail lines.

The company said that weekend services may be cancelled at short notice while journeys on Monday and Tuesday will be subject to amended timetables.

Mercury expected to soar by another 10C

04:35 , Namita Singh

Temperatures are set to rise by another 10C in much of England over the coming days, increasing the strain on hospital and train services.

On average, the mercury will remain in the mid-20s for the last working day of the week, before rising to around 35C in southern, central and eastern areas of England by Tuesday.

The Met Office has issued an “amber” extreme heat warning for much of England and Wales from Sunday until Tuesday.

Tuesday is likely to be the hottest day, with the potential to top the UK record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F) set in Cambridge in 2019, forecasters said.

The warning says the weather could cause health problems across the population, not just among people vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potentially serious illness or danger to life.

Friday will begin with outbreaks of showery rain moving southeast across northern and central areas of the UK.

Meanwhile, people in the south and southwest can expect warm sunshine.

London is forecast to experience 26C on Friday, while 23C is predicted for Cardiff, 20C in Belfast and 19C in Edinburgh.

Saturday is also set to start with overcast skies and scattered showers in northern areas, before turning dry across the nation as extreme heat moves in.

During the peak of the heatwave on Tuesday, 36C is predicted in the capital, 28C in Cardiff, 26C in Belfast and 25C in Edinburgh.

Government anticipates further strain on NHS

03:16 , Liam James

The government said it was preparing for a surge in demand on the NHS and other services due to a forecast of potentially record-breaking temperatures next week.

After a meeting of the Cobra committee this afternoon, Kit Malthouse, the Cabinet Office minister, urged the public to look out for people who are particularly vulnerable in the heat.

He told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One: “The key thing we can do is prepare the government services for what may be a surge in demand – not least the health service and elsewhere – but also critically communicate that the first line of defence is actually individual behavioural change.

“People need to take care, do all the stuff they would do when it is very hot – wear a hat, drink water – but critically also [with] the most vulnerable groups – the elderly, those with cardiovascular problems and the very young – that people look out for them and take care.

“We are asking people if they have an elderly neighbour, particularly if they live alone, it would be a neighbourly thing to check up on them and make sure they are looking after themselves and have access to water.

“The current forecast is that we will be in the mid to high-30s but there is a smaller possibility that we could exceed that and possibly hit 40 which would be an all time record.”

Ministers said the NHS was already under winter levels of pressure due to the heat combined with Covid-related staff shortages.

Climate change means UK’s heat record could be broken – less than three years after it was set

01:50 , Liam James

For 80 years, the summer of 1911 held the record as the hottest in the UK after temperatures peaked at 36.7C on August 9 in Raunds in Northamptonshire.

Deaths increased, with The Times writing a regular column on Deaths from Heat, while water supplies were cut off for several hours each day in cities such as Manchester and Bradford. Factory and mill workers were laid off due to water shortages and parched land for grazing led to an increase in the price of milk.

Decades later, the record was eventually broken in the summer of 1990 when the maximum temperature reached 37.1C in the Gloucestershire town of Cheltenham. Since then, the 1911 36.7C record has been met or exceeded four times, and a further two highest temperature records have been set.

“High-temperature records are being reached or exceeded more frequently, and we’re repeatedly exceeding temperatures from extreme heatwaves from our past,” said Mark McCarthy, a climate scientist at the Met Office.

Saphora Smith, Climate Correspondent, looks ahead to Britain’s warmer years ahead:

Climate change means UK’s heat record could be broken

Gatwick airport runs low on water forcing closure of toilets and restaurants amid heatwave

Friday 15 July 2022 00:40 , Liam James

Gatwick airport ran low on water on Wednesday after a burst pipe disrupted supplies in the middle of a heatwave.

The shortage reportedly left passengers in one terminal with only two working toilets while restaurants were forced to close.

Airport officials apologised said they were handing out bottled water to passengers.

SES Water, which serves the airport and surrounding area, said a burst water main in Shipley Bridge had cut pressure to Gatwick and the nearby towns of Horley and Crawley.

Gatwick airport runs low on water ‘forcing closure of toilets and restaurants’

Friday forecast: Showers up north but warm all over

Thursday 14 July 2022 23:01 , Liam James

Friday is set to be another warm day across Britain though showers are expected in Scotland and the north of England.

The rain will push towards the Midlands towards the end of the morning but by mid-afternoon only Northumberland and parts of Scotland should see rain, the Met Office said.

Southern England and South Wales will see temperatures pushing up to the mid-20s while Scotland and much of northern England will be in the high teens.

Heatwave rail disruption warning as ministers say NHS is braced for ‘surge’

Thursday 14 July 2022 22:23 , Liam James

Train passengers are being warned of major disruption from extreme heat on rail lines as ministers said the NHS was braced for a “surge” in demand (Alastair Jamieson writes).

Avanti West Coast warned passengers who wish to use services between London Euston and Scotland to plan ahead due to the impact of the weather on infrastructure.

The company said services on Saturday and Sunday could be cancelled at short notice.

It also warned that services on Monday July 18 and Tuesday July 19 will be subject to amended timetables and extended journey times.

An emergency Cobra meeting was taking place on Thursday night to discuss how to tackle the heatwave gripping the UK.

Heatwave rail disruption warning as NHS is braced for demand ‘surge’

Running water returns to Isle of Sheppey after days

Thursday 14 July 2022 21:15 , Liam James

Residents of the Isle of Sheppey were set to have running water again today after burst pipes left thousands without water during the hottest week of the year.

Two main pipes to the island off the Kent coast burst on Tuesday, affecting 24,000 homes and shutting 12 schools.

Bottled water points were set up by Southern Water and tankers were brought in to supply Sheppey Community Hospital.

Southern Water issued a statement at 8pm saying the majority of the island should be back in supply after repairs were completed – though residents were told to expect cloudy water and low pressure.

Schoolboy put in ‘prison-like’ isolation room for wearing shorts as temperatures soared

Thursday 14 July 2022 20:24 , Liam James

A schoolboy was put in a ‘prison-like’ isolation room for wearing shorts to school amidst a national heatwave, his father says.

Harrison Utting, 13, was sent to a special room in Westlands Secondary School in Sittingbourne, Kent for turning up without trousers on Monday morning.

The boy’s father, Terry Utting, criticised the school for its actions as temperatures around the UK continue to rise and weather warnings are put in place.

The father said his son was put in a pastoral support room which is “like a prison.”

Schoolboy put in ‘prison-like’ isolation room for wearing shorts during heatwave

Rail firm warns of train disruption over coming days

Thursday 14 July 2022 19:48 , Liam James

Avanti West Coast has warned of disruption to major train lines, cancellations at short notice and extended journey times due to the high temperatures expected over the coming days.

The rail operator warned passengers who wish to use services between London Euston and Scotland to plan ahead due to the impact of the heat on rail lines.

Services on Saturday and Sunday may be cancelled at short notice, Avanti said.

It also warned that services on Monday and Tuesday will be subject to amended timetables and extended journey times.

The steel rails used in train tracks absorb heat easily and tend to hover around 20 degrees above the surrounding air temperature, according to Network Rail.

Tips to stay safe during the heatwave

Thursday 14 July 2022 19:10 , Liam James

As the UK braces for soaring temperatures, people are being advised to stay safe with simple measures:

- Look out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated, particularly older people, those with underlying conditions and people who lie alone.

- Those who do live alone are being encouraged to ask a friend or relative to phone to check they are not have having difficulties during extreme heat.

- Stay cool indoors, by closing curtains in rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler, and remember it might be cooler outdoors.

- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and avoid too much alcohol.

- Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially babies, young children or animals.

- Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when the sun’s UV rays are strongest.

- If you have to go out in the heat, try to walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

- Avoid physical activity in the hottest parts of the day.

- Carry water when travelling.

- Check the latest weather forecast and temperature warnings.

- While going for a swim can be a good way to cool down, people are warned to head for lifeguarded swimming sites, to remember that water is often much colder than it looks, not to go too far from shore or swim against currents, and to always take a friend when swimming.

Another London green space goes brown in heatwave

Thursday 14 July 2022 18:30 , Liam James

New pictures below of Wanstead Flats – a large green space in east London’s that has turned brown after several dry days of intense heat.

Grasslands all over the capital have lost their colour in the current warm weather, including Hyde Park in the centre and Greenwich Park in the southeast.

Private gardens have also dried out in the heat. Though the brown may be unappealing, the capital’s water board advises gardeners to resist hosing down their lawns as the water is better conserved when supplies are low in sustained warm periods.

The grass will soon go green again after a spot of rain, Thames Water says.

Girl ‘came home crying and sick’ after doing PE in heatwave

Thursday 14 July 2022 17:40 , Liam James

A nine-year-old girl was left in tears and vomited after doing a PE lesson in this week’s heatwave, according to her mother (Zoe Tidman writes).

Collette Elliott told The Independent her daughter, Codey, passed out within half an hour of returning home poorly from school on Monday.

She said she was “fuming” after being told primary school pupils had been left to decide for themselves whether to sit out PE in the heat.

The UK has been experiencing scorching weather this week, with many areas seeing temperatures in the high 20s and some even topping 30C.

The start of the week was the hottest, with temperatures dipping in the middle before they are expected to rise again before the weekend.

Girl ‘came home crying and sick’ after doing PE in heatwave

Government anticipates further strain on NHS

Thursday 14 July 2022 17:05 , Liam James

The government said it was preparing for a surge in demand on the NHS and other services due to a forecast of potentially record-breaking temperatures next week.

After a meeting of the Cobra committee this afternoon, Kit Malthouse, the Cabinet Office minister, urged the public to look out for people who are particularly vulnerable in the heat.

He told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One: “The key thing we can do is prepare the government services for what may be a surge in demand – not least the health service and elsewhere – but also critically communicate that the first line of defence is actually individual behavioural change.

“People need to take care, do all the stuff they would do when it is very hot – wear a hat, drink water – but critically also [with] the most vulnerable groups – the elderly, those with cardiovascular problems and the very young – that people look out for them and take care.

“We are asking people if they have an elderly neighbour, particularly if they live alone, it would be a neighbourly thing to check up on them and make sure they are looking after themselves and have access to water.

“The current forecast is that we will be in the mid to high-30s but there is a smaller possibility that we could exceed that and possibly hit 40 which would be an all time record.”

Ministers said the NHS was already under winter levels of pressure due to the heat combined with Covid-related staff shortages.

Worst drought in 70 years threatens risotto, passata and olive oil supplies

Thursday 14 July 2022 16:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Italy’s worst drought in 70 years has put the supplies of olive oil, risotto rice and passata under threat as the country buckles under the burden of poor water infrastructure.

A price hike of up to 50 per cent is expected for rice and tomatoes after growers of the arborio rice- used in risotto- said there would be a “significant reduction” in crop yields.

The Italian government declared a state of emergency in several northern regions because of the drought and a fierce heatwave that has dried up the Po River- a key area for the production of fruits, vegetables and grain as well as irrigation.

Get all the details here:

Worst drought in 70 years threatens risotto, passata and olive oil supplies

Charity director urges people to check on older relatives amid extreme heat

Thursday 14 July 2022 15:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

People are being urged to stay out of the sun in the middle of the day, stay hydrated, look out for vulnerable people, never leave children or pets in a parked car, and keep curtains closed to keep out the sun.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, urged people to check on older relatives, friends and neighbours to see if they needed anything during the high heat.

“Any older person who is already coping with significant health issues, especially if they impact their heart or their lungs, is going to find the coming heatwave a challenge,” she warned.

How to stay cool in a heatwave

Thursday 14 July 2022 15:26 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

High pollen count and UV levels this weekend

Thursday 14 July 2022 14:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sunseekers- be wary of high pollen count and strong UV level this weekend! Be sure to wear sunscreen before you go outside to keep your skin protected.

Teachers warn it is ‘potentially dangerous’ to hold sports day during heatwave

Thursday 14 July 2022 14:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Teachers’ leaders said schools may cancel sports days to protect pupils and staff while a heatwave warning is in place next week.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said the weather will make it “potentially dangerous” for youngsters to take part in physical activity in the sun.

Dr Bousted said: “Schools will prioritise safety and wellbeing.

“It is potentially dangerous to take part in vigorous physical activity in extreme heat, with the risk of heat exhaustion and even heat stroke.”

She said headteachers will be “checking the local weather forecast and using their professional judgment to cancel or reschedule any activities involving strenuous exercise so as to protect children and staff”.

Thursday 14 July 2022 13:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Pictures show a parched Threipmuir Reservoir in the Pentland Hills National Park as the heat takes a serious toll on the environment.

UK heatwave: The areas most at risk from dangerous temperatures

Thursday 14 July 2022 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The parts of the UK most at risk from the health risks of extreme heat have been identified by researchers from the University of Manchester for Friends of the Earth.

Communities most vulnerable to the dangerous health impacts of soaring temperatures are those with a high number of older people and children, those without green space to shelter from the heat, and those where the type of housing, such as high-rise buildings and mobile homes, is most susceptible to overheating.

Researchers found the top five local authorities with the most ‘at risk’ neighbourhoods are Birmingham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Nottingham.

My colleague Samuel Webb has more:

UK heatwave: The areas most at risk from dangerous temperatures

Schools let children ditch uniforms during heatwave

Thursday 14 July 2022 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A growing number of schools are telling children to ditch uniforms as temperatures soar during the UK’s heatwave.

Students across the country are being allowed to wear their own clothes or PE kits during this week and the next to help them keep cool in the scorching weather.

Zoe Tidman has all the details:

Schools let children ditch uniforms during heatwave

Cobra meeting- latest

Thursday 14 July 2022 12:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The prime minister’s official spokesman said there were “tried and tested” plans in the NHS for increasing staffing in relevant areas.

“There have already been some co-ordination meetings at official level across government,” the spokesman said.

“This is a progression of that to ensure that - as we come into what are predicted to be the hottest days - that the necessary mitigations and actions are in place or being but in place.

“A lot of this is making sure the public are aware of the advice that is available - particularly those with young children or vulnerable family members.

UK heatwave: Government to hold emergency Cobra meeting ahead of ‘extreme’ temperature surge

Thursday 14 July 2022 12:07 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse is to chair meeting of the Government’s Cobra civil contingencies committee on the heatwave, Downing Street has said.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said the move was a “progression” of the “significant work “ that had already been done to prepare.

Follow the story here:

Emergency Cobra meeting to be held over heatwave ahead of ‘extreme’ temperature surge

How hot will it get next week?

Thursday 14 July 2022 11:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Extreme heat is in store for many parts of the UK for early next week- but just how hot will it get?

Wildfires rage on Croatia’s Adriatic coast as heatwave sweeps Europe

Thursday 14 July 2022 22:51 , Liam James

Croatia is the latest southern European country to be hit with wildfires in the heatwave sweeping the continent.

Fueled by strong winds, fires raged on the country’s Adriatic Sea, with the most dramatic situation reported near the town of Sibenik.

Water-dropping planes and dozens of firefighters struggled to contain the flames that briefly engulfed some cars and the church tower in the Zaton area on the outskirts of the town before firefighters eventually managed to put it out.

Portugal, Spain, France and Turkey have also seen wildfires this week.

Isle of Sheppey: Water supply to return after taps run dry for thousands during heatwave

Thursday 14 July 2022 11:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Residents on the Isle of Sheppey can expect their water supply to return on Thursday after burst pipes left thousands without water during the hottest week of the year.

Two main pipes to the island off the Kent coast burst on Tuesday, affecting 24,000 homes and shutting 12 schools.

Bottled water points were set up by Southern Water and tankers were brought in to supply Sheppey Community Hospital.

Isle of Sheppey water supply to return after taps run dry in heatwave

Farmers warn of scorched crops as reservoirs dry up in heatwave

Thursday 14 July 2022 10:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Farmers have warned of scorched crops as the rare heatwave leaves fields parched.

Andrew Blenkiron, director of the Euston Estate near Thetford and chairman of the National Farmers Union in Suffolk, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning: “We grow about 1,200 acres of irrigated root crops – so that’s parsnips, potatoes, carrots and onions, and that’s where our significant challenge has arisen at the moment to try and keep those crops fully watered to ensure that they meet market specifications and indeed generate a yield.

Meanwhile, reservoirs are drying up in the extreme heat. It comes as the Met Office have predicted record-breaking temperatures are on the cards for Monday and Tuesday next week, where the mercury could climb to 35C in some parts of the UK.

Remnants of a former village can be seen in Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate, North Yorks after water levels reduced dramatically in Tuesday’s sweltering heat.

UK heatwave: Emergency planning in government amid fears temperatures could hit 40C

Thursday 14 July 2022 10:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Britain could see its first ever national heatwave emergency this weekend as forecasters warn of dangerously high temperatures in the coming days.

The Met Office predicts the mercury will exceed 35C and could even reach 40C on Sunday. There is around a 30 per cent chance that the current heat record – of 38.7C set in Cambridge in 2019 – could be broken.

As parts of southeast England sweltered at 31C on Tuesday, the Met Office issued an updated “amber” extreme heat warning covering 17 and 18 July for much of England and Wales.

National emergency could be declared amid fears of 40C heat at weekend