Londoners brace for tropical weather as heatwave continues
Londoners are boiling in the grips of a mini heatwave as warm weather is set to continue in large parts of the UK.
If you’ve woken up groggy after a badly slept night, you’re not alone as London is taken over by a mini heatwave.
Tuesday was the hottest day of the year so far in the UK, the Met Office said.
Chertsey in Surrey reached 30°C, while mercury at Heathrow Airport hit 29.7°C on Tuesday.
And there is more to come as daytime temperatures across the south and North West are set to reach almost 30°C today.
The hump day weather starts warm in most of England and southern parts of Scotland, with some thin cloud in the North West and on coastal areas that will clear towards the end of the morning.
There will be a chance of showers in northeast England, but for most, the weather will be dry with ‘plenty of sunshine,’ the Met Office said.
Mark Sidawa, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘Although we are expecting to see some very warm temperatures this week, it may not be the wall-to-wall sunshine and blue skies people are expecting as there is likely to be some cloud around in places.
‘Some areas, mainly central and eastern England, will see temperatures which exceed the heatwave criteria.
‘To be officially recognised as a “heatwave” though, the temperature must be reached for three consecutive days.
‘Although we are looking to enjoy some nice warm temperatures, the weather this week does not look particularly exceptional or extreme.’
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On Thursday, temperatures will hit mid-20°C in the south and London, Midlands and the east and north-east before the weather cools slightly towards Friday.
The dry and sunny weather will come as a relief for those heading to Glastonbury Festival, with temperatures at Worthy Farm predicted to hit at least 27°C today as revelers set up their tents.
London weather on Wednesday, June 26
In London, temperatures are set to hit 23°C by 10am on Wednesday, so the peak rush hour commute could already feel warm as the mercury keeps rising under blue skies.
London streets with all day sunshine could feel extra scorching as the buildings and concrete trap some heat, so taking a water bottle with you is a good idea.
If you were hoping to have good night’s sleep tonight, it’s not looking promising as nighttime temperatures in London are expected to stay at around 20°C – officially a tropical night.
In the Tube, it is tricky to avoid feeling sticky even in cooler weather and you might feel light-headed or spot a fellow passenger in trouble.
Transport for London issued advice for passengers taking the Tube in the sweltering heat.
Carl Eddleston, TfL’s network management and resilience director, said: ‘With continuous hot weather forecast over the coming days, we are encouraging customers to carry water with them when they travel.
‘We have a comprehensive hot weather plan in place to protect the network’s infrastructure with resources on standby to help respond to the impact and to keep services running.
‘Please look out for each other while travelling.’
On the Tube, 192 trains have air conditioning, covering 40% of the network, while all Overground and Elizabeth line trains have air-con.
Some stations also have water points for customers to refill their bottles.
Mini heatwave advice from the fire brigade
The London Fire Brigade urged Londoners to stay safe during the mini heatwave.
Firefighters are concerned the spike in temperatures could see an increase in number of drowning incidents as people might be tempted to jump into a body of water.
Making a fire outside could also be a hazard.
Here are tips for water safety and preventing a fire.
Top water safety tips
• Don’t go into the water if someone else is in trouble. Call 999, tell them to float.
• Look for nearby public rescue equipment. If not available, throw something that floats.
• Never drink alcohol and then go for a swim or attempt to jump into water
• Avoid walking/running very close to water on your own or late at night – it’s easier than you think to slip and fall in
Grass fire prevention tips
• Don’t drop cigarettes or anything that is burning on dry ground.
• Don’t drop cigarettes out of car windows – they may land on dry grass by the roadside.
• Don’t have barbecues in parks and public spaces.
• Do not barbecue on balconies, the wind may carry smouldering ash towards grassland.
• Be aware that children, animals, balls or anything else may knock over barbecues, increasing the risk of grass fires, especially when in busy parks or public spaces.
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