Brits bask in hottest day since records began as Met say we've hit 39.1C with 1000s packing beaches to soak up heatwave | The Sun
BRITS are basking in what could be the UK's hottest day since records began as temperatures soared to 39.1C, provisional forecasts suggest.
The mercury in Charlwood, Surrey, rose above the UK's previous all-time high of 38.7C recorded in Cambridge in 2019, unconfirmed data has found.
Records first began in 1910, with the Met Office responsible for keeping track of temperatures ever since.
The record applies only to the UK, with today's 39.1C dwarfed by the world-record 56.7C recorded in California in 1913.
As temperatures soared, sunseekersdid not let another day of travel chaos scupper their plans as huge crowds rushed to seaside towns country wide.
Some 200 schools shut their doors yesterday as a red "danger to life" heat warning remains in place until midnight.
The weather was off to a scorching start today, with the Met Office recording highs of 37.3C in Charlwood, Surrey, by 11am – seeing Brits quickly head to beaches and parks to make the most of the summer sun.
And they should enjoy it while they can as the heatwave ends tomorrow – and is replaced with a yellow warning for thunderstorms across London and parts of the South East.
Thousands of workers are expected to work from home again today amid fears rail lines will "buckle" as temperatures soar.
Yesterday, the mercury hit 30C by 10am before peaking at 38.1C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, at 3pm.
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And last night was the warmest night in the UK since records began in 1910, as Met Office forecasters recorded highs of 25.9C in Emley Moor, near Huddersfield.
Power cuts were reported in London and several areas in the South East after the Met Office warned that heat-sensitive equipment faces a "high risk of failure" in hot weather.
Some lucky Brits are able to cool off from the heat in the world's first floating pool built across two buildings on London’s South Bank.
On Monday, thousands of Brits made the most of the warmth by packing out beaches and green spaces across the country.
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Many skipped work to soak up the sun – before continuing their revelry late into the night.
The heat also melted Luton Airport's runway, sparked grass fires and shut 200 hundred schools – with more closures expected today.
One Aldi supermarket rationed heatwave essentials like water bottles for customers while Brits were urged to look out for elderly residents and vulnerable neighbours.
Tragically, a man in his 70s last night became the twelfth person to die in the heatwave.
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It came after a 14-year-old boy was feared to have drowned after getting into difficulties in the Thames in Richmond, West London.
And cops scrambled to save a 16-year-old boy after he began struggling in Bray Lake, Maidenhead, Berkshire, at around 11.45am.
Rail infrastructure was under exceptional stress on Monday with tracks at risk of melting.
A total of 21 train operators announced slower services to stop tracks buckling – with Network Rail warning commuters that train times could more than double due to speed restrictions.
And the chances of services returning to normal by midweek will depend on any "damage that the weather does to the infrastructure" on Monday and Tuesday, travellers have been told.
Network Rail has issued a "do not travel" warning today to areas that fall within the Met Office's extreme heat warning zone.
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No Thameslink or Great Northern services are scheduled to run north from London all day.
And around 220,000 passengers will be hit as all East Coast Main Line services from London King's Cross are called off in the heat.
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