UK Records Warmest Day of Year So Far, Met Office Confirms
The United Kingdom has experienced its warmest day of the year to date, with temperatures soaring to 29.4C, according to the Met Office. This provisional record was confirmed on Friday, with Santon Downham in Suffolk registering the highest temperature.
However, the Met Office has warned that the warm weather is set to be disrupted by severe thunderstorms, which are "pushing into" the Channel. An amber weather warning for severe thunderstorms in the east and south-east of England has been issued, and will come into force at 8pm on Friday. This warning covers parts of East Anglia and eastern parts of East Sussex and Kent, and advises of the risk of torrential rain, large hail, frequent lightning, and gusty winds.
A Met Office spokesperson confirmed that "we have now provisionally had the warmest day of the year so far with 29.4C at Santon Downham in Suffolk." The spokesperson added that the thunderstorms could lead to road flooding, difficult driving conditions, power cuts, and flooding of homes and businesses.
In response to the heat and humidity, the UK Health Security Agency has issued its first yellow heat-health alert of the year. This alert, which runs until 8am on Sunday, affects the east and south-east of England, London, and the East Midlands. According to the Agency, the heat could lead to an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, including those over 65 and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern warned that the heat and humidity could spark "very severe weather" overnight. He added that the amber thunderstorm alert, which covers parts of East Anglia and eastern parts of East Sussex and Kent until 5am on Saturday, advises of the risk of torrential rain, large hail, frequent lightning, and gusty winds.
The Environment Agency has also issued a warning, urging people not to drive through flood water. Katharine Smith, the flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Environment Agency teams have ensured rivers and watercourses are clear ahead of the storms and stand ready to support local authorities in their response to surface water flooding. We urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car."
In addition to the amber warning, yellow thunderstorm warnings are in place for much of southern and south-western England and Wales between Friday afternoon and midnight. Another warning is in place across eastern and southern Scotland from midnight to 6pm on Saturday, with northern and south-western England and Wales also affected.
The Met Office and other agencies are working closely together to monitor the situation and provide updates and warnings as necessary. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential for residents in affected areas to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
As reported by The Guardian, the UK’s warmest day of the year so far has been confirmed, with temperatures hitting 29.4C. The Met Office has warned of severe thunderstorms and issued an amber weather warning for parts of the country. The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a yellow heat-health alert, and the Environment Agency has warned of the risk of flooding.
Residents are advised to check the latest weather forecasts and warnings from the Met Office and other agencies, and to take necessary precautions to stay safe during the severe weather.
According to The Guardian, the Met Office has confirmed that the UK has experienced its warmest day of the year to date. The newspaper reported that temperatures soared to 29.4C on Friday, with Santon Downham in Suffolk registering the highest temperature.
The Guardian also reported that the Met Office has warned of severe thunderstorms and issued an amber weather warning for parts of the country. The newspaper added that the UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow heat-health alert, and that the Environment Agency has warned of the risk of flooding.
As the situation continues to unfold, The Guardian will provide updates and the latest information on the severe weather.
