Britain To Continue To Bask In Sunshine And Soaring Temperatures | HuffPost

Britain To Continue To Bask In Soaring Temperatures

PA

|

Britain will continue to bask in sunshine and soaring temperatures today as the heatwave shows no sign of abating, forecasters said.

The country experienced the hottest day of the year so far yesterday, with the mercury hitting 32.2C (90F).

People enjoy the sunshine on Brighton Beach

Temperatures are expected to hit 30C (86F) again today, according to MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association.

A level three heat health watch has been put in place for London and the South East with the elderly and young, and those with chronic health conditions, urged to take extra care.

Forecasters have said Britain is in the midst of its first prolonged heatwave since 2006, with six consecutive days of temperatures above 30C (86F).

And it is set to continue into next week, with temperatures in the high 20s Celsius at the weekend before rising to 30C and above next week - bringing with it an increased risk of thunderstorms.

Gemma Plumb, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said there was no sign of temperatures dropping significantly in the coming days.

"On Saturday and Sunday it looks like we will have temperatures of around 28C (82.4F) but by Monday we have temperatures of 29C and 30C, with an increased risk of getting some showers," she said.

"Today there is a risk of thunderstorms across parts of south-east Scotland, south Wales and south-west England, but the rest of the country should remain dry."

Temperatures reached 32.2C (90F) at Hampton in Surrey yesterday, making it the warmest weather since Saturday.

Story continues after slideshow...

British Heatwave

Summer weather July 19th(01 of49)

People relaxing by the fountains at Marble Arch in London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 19th(02 of49)

Children playing in fountains as they enjoy the continuing hot weather in the City Square, Bradford. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 19th(03 of49)

Children playing in fountains as they enjoy the continuing hot weather in the City Square, Bradford. (credit:PA)

Wanstead fire(04 of49)

Firefighters tackle a grass fire on the edge of Epping Forest near Wanstead in north east London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 19th(05 of49)

Children playing in fountains as they enjoy the continuing hot weather in the City Square, Bradford. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 19th(06 of49)

Swimmers and sunbathers enjoying the hot weather in the mixed bathing ponds of Hampstead Heath, in north London. (credit:PA)

Wanstead fire(07 of49)

Firefighters tackle a grass fire on the edge of Epping Forest near Wanstead in north east London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 19th(08 of49)

Swimmers and sunbathers enjoying the hot weather in the mixed bathing ponds of Hampstead Heath, in north London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 20(09 of49)

The cappuccino cycle club climb a hill in Harrogate, North Yorkshire as the longest heatwave for seven years is set to continue across Britain - but the blazing temperatures will bring widespread rain and thunderstorms next week. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 9(10 of49)

Sisters Lauren, 23 and Ashley, 25 Johnstone (right) from Gateshead enjoy the heatwave at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, during the hot weather that the UK has been enjoying which is expected to last into the weekend. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 9(11 of49)

Sisters Lauren, 23 and Ashley, 25 Johnstone (right) from Gateshead enjoy the heatwave at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, during the hot weather that the UK has been enjoying which is expected to last into the weekend. (credit:PA)

Summer weather June 20(12 of49)

A child playing in the water fountain at the South Bank Centre in London (credit:PA)

Heatwave in the UK(13 of49)

Mud flats at Wallasea Island, Essex, after baking in scorching temperatures over the past few days. (credit:PA)

Weather June 26th(14 of49)

People soak up the sun on the deckchairs in central London's St James's Park. (credit:PA)

Heatwave Hits Bedfordshire(15 of49)

Chimpanzees Bonnie and Elvis enjoy a block of fruit filled ice as temperatures soared at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park in Bedfordshire. (credit:PA)

Summer Weather July 12(16 of49)

People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)

Summer Weather July 12(17 of49)

People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)

Summer Weather July 12(18 of49)

People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)

Summer Weather July 12(19 of49)

People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)

Summer Weather July 12(20 of49)

People walk along the dried up bed of the river Hodge Beck in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire as the heatwave continues up and down the country. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16th(21 of49)

Summer Passmore, two, from Clerkenwell, London, cools off in the pavement fountains at the Royal Academy court yard in central London, as the hot weather continues to cover the UK. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16th(22 of49)

Summer Passmore, two, from Clerkenwell, London, cools off in the pavement fountains at the Royal Academy court yard in central London, as the hot weather continues to cover the UK. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16th(23 of49)

Luella Facer (left) and her friend Summer Passmore, both two and from Clerkenwell, London, cool off in the pavement fountains at the Royal Academy court yard in central London, as the hot weather continues to cover the UK. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16(24 of49)

American tourists Lyndsey, 20, (left) from Oklahoma and Brooke, 23 from Texas, relax by a fountain in Trafalgar Square, London as the hot weather is set to continue for the rest of the week. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16th(25 of49)

Summer Passmore, two, from Clerkenwell, London, cools off in the pavement fountains at the Royal Academy court yard in central London, as the hot weather continues to cover the UK. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(26 of49)

A visitor to Green Park, London, enjoys the Summer weather. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(27 of49)

Punt Chauffeurs Hannah Taylor, 20, and Flo Esplin (right), 18, enjoy the summer sunshine as they take a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(28 of49)

Visitors to Green Park, London, enjoy the Summer weather. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16(29 of49)

People relax in deck chairs in St.James Park, central London as the hot weather is set to continue for the rest of the week. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16th(30 of49)

A man relaxes in the hot weather in Victoria Tower Gardens in London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16th(31 of49)

A man relaxes in the hot weather in Victoria Tower Gardens in London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16(32 of49)

Black cab driver Tom Rudland, from Surrey, cools down with an ice cream in central London as the hot weather is set to continue for the rest of the week. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(33 of49)

A man and woman stand on a narrow boat in the River Thames near Penton Hook, Surrey, as the hot weather continues across the UK. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16(34 of49)

People cool down in the fountain at Trafalgar Square, London as the hot weather is set to continue for the rest of the week. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16th(35 of49)

People relaxing in the hot weather in Victoria Tower Gardens in London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 16th(36 of49)

People relaxing in the hot weather in Victoria Tower Gardens in London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(37 of49)

A young woman walks through a field of linseed in Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(38 of49)

A young woman walks through a field of linseed in Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(39 of49)

A young woman walks through a field of linseed in Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(40 of49)

A young woman sits in a field of linseed in Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(41 of49)

Punt Chauffeurs Flo Esplin (left), 18, and Hannah Taylor, 20, enjoy the summer sunshine as they take a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(42 of49)

Punt Chauffeurs Flo Esplin (left), 18, and Hannah Taylor, 20, enjoy the summer sunshine as they take a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(43 of49)

A visitor to Green Park, London, enjoys the Summer weather. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(44 of49)

A woman relaxing on a park bench in the hot weather in Regent's Park, central London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(45 of49)

A man sunbathing in the hot weather in Little Venice, west London. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(46 of49)

Punt Chauffeurs Hannah Taylor, 20, and Flo Esplin (right), 18, enjoy the summer sunshine as they take a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)

Summer weather July 15th(47 of49)

Punt Chauffeur Flo Esplin, 18, enjoys the summer sunshine as she takes a break between trips on the river Cam in Cambridge. (credit:PA)

Summer Weather July 6(48 of49)

Alex (left) and Andrea Pal with their son, Leonardo, aged six-months, from Dagenham, Essex, enjoy the sunshine on the beach at Southend-on-Sea as much of Britain is bathed in sunshine. (credit:PA)

Summer Weather July 14(49 of49)

People enjoy the warm weather along the River Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon. (credit:PA)

MeteoGroup said average rainfall for England and Wales so far this month was only 15% of the average at 4.9mm, while Thames Water said it had seen a 15% rise in the demand for tap water in London and the Thames Valley.

The Met Office said the UK had seen 132 hours of sunshine between July 1 and July 15, which is 77 % of the average sunshine for the whole month.

Average daytime temperatures have also been 2C above average, it said.

Public Health England (PHE) officials have advised people to stay cool, drink lots of cold fluids and keep an eye those they know to be at risk.

Dr Angie Bone, heatwave plan leader for PHE, said: "In this continued hot weather, it's important to remember that high temperatures can be dangerous, especially for people who may be vulnerable such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses.

"During very hot weather, pregnant women and people who have chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal conditions, diabetes or Parkinson's disease, may experience discomfort if indoor temperatures are particularly hot and in using public transport.

"Employers should ensure indoor areas are kept cool and consider allowing these individuals to travel to or from their place of work during cooler, or less busy, times of the day.

"For those working or exercising outdoors, strenuous physical exertion during the hottest part of the day should be kept to a minimum."

Police and fire chiefs yesterday reiterated warnings about escaping the heat by swimming in open water after four people died in separate incidents on Tuesday.

A 16-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man, from King's Lynn, were found dead in unrelated incidents in lakes at Bawsey Pits, Norfolk.

A man, believed to be a 21-year-old from Shropshire, died after getting into difficulties near the confluence of the Rivers Dee and Ceiriog on the Shropshire-north Wales border.

And a 40-year-old woman from Saltash died following what police called a "medical episode" while swimming in the sea at Seaton, near Torpoint in eastern Cornwall.

Suggest a correction

|

What's Hot

Tetchy Rishi Sunak Complains About Being Asked Political Questions During Tense Interview

The 1 Thing Colorectal Doctors Would Never Use On Their Butts

How Exactly Should You Wash Yourself 'Down There'? Doctors Have Thoughts

Millie Bobby Brown's Fiancé Gave Her 'The Ick' By Doing 1 Thing She's Famous For