Tuesday 19 July 2022 08:21 AM UK weather: Temperatures are set to hit 43C on the hottest day in UK history trends now

Britons are set to melt on the hottest UK day on record today as temperatures soar past 40C (104F) amid growing travel chaos as schools close again and millions of people responded to the chaos by working from home.

The Met Office has confirmed that last night was the warmest night on record in Britain, with temperatures not falling below 25C (77F) in many areas of England and Wales. The highest overnight minimum was 25.9C (78.6F) at Emley Moor in West Yorkshire - smashing the previous record of 23.9C (75F) in Brighton set on August 3, 1990.

Temperatures had already hit 28C (82.4F) before 8am today at Pembrey Sands in Carmarthenshire. At 6am today, it was already 27C (81F) in parts of South East England, 24C (75F) in the South West and 22C (72F) in the Midlands.

Forecasters expect an absolute peak of 43C (109F) in central or eastern England today - one day after Wales had its hottest day ever with 37.1C (99F) in Hawarden, Flintshire, beating a record set in the same village in 1990.

The mercury peaked in the UK at 38.1C (100.6F) in Suffolk yesterday, making it the hottest day of 2022 and the third hottest day on record, after 38.7C (101.7F) in Cambridge in 2019 and 38.5C (101.3F) in Kent in August 2003.

The heat brought major rail chaos for commuters today, with no Thameslink or Great Northern trains running in any location north of London, from London Blackfriars via St Pancras, or from London King's Cross or Moorgate.

LNER will run no trains from south of York and south of Leeds to King's Cross - and Southern, Southeastern, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway are among the operators running significantly reduced services.

On the London Underground, there was no Hammersmith & City line, no Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate due to 'heat-related speed restrictions', and severe delays on the Central and District lines.

There was also no Overground between Willesden Junction and Richmond or Romford and Upminster, while there were delays on other Overground lines, the Jubilee line and the western and eastern parts of the Elizabeth line.

Transport for London said London's rail network will be running a reduced service throughout today due to safety restrictions put into place to deal with the heat, and Gatwick Express trains were completely suspended.

Network Rail warned customers across Britain to travel only if 'absolutely necessary' today - while Merseyrail said the number of trains running and journey times will be 'seriously affected', with some routes closed completely.

But the sight of parts of the UK shutting down sparked a backlash, with complaints that ministers and health chiefs were 'acting like nanny' - while holidaymakers were delayed yesterday as a part of runway at Luton Airport melted.

With the UK's first ever red warning for extreme heat still predicted to see the 40C (104F) barrier broken for the first time ever today, normal life was on hold in parts of the country as:

At least 171 schools closed, with teachers claiming learning was impossible in sweltering classrooms; Hospitals cancelled appointments and non-urgent operations as operating theatres turned into ovens; Royal Mail workers were told to return to sorting offices with undelivered mail amid fears they would fall ill; Experts recommended avoiding the beach and holding off exercising until the extreme heat has passed; Commuter numbers on roads and railways were down by up to a fifth, and tracks on some lines buckled; There was a spate of water-related tragedies, including a 13-year-old boy's body pulled from the River Tyne; A 50-fold increase in demand for fans alongside a boom for bottled water, ice lollies and canned cocktails; Water companies raised the prospect of hosepipe bans amid fears of a summer drought.

Met Office meteorologist Rachel Ayers said: 'The temperature will be very hot throughout the day, before rising as high as 40C, maybe even 41C in isolated spots across England during the afternoon.

Maximum temperatures of at least 40C are expected in England this afternoon - but could rise even further to as high as 43C

Forecasters at MetDesk produced this map revealing where the top temperatures are likely to be observed in Britain today

The UK has experienced its warmest night on record, according to provisional Met Office figures as shown in this map

The burnt out remains of parkland in Skellow, Doncaster, this morning after a huge grass fire came within feet of homes.

Commuters on the sweltering Jubilee line this morning as they commute to work on the London Underground

Commuters and joggers cross London Bridge this morning amid the extreme temperatures as the heatwave continues

The sun rises over Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, this morning on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far

Trains in sidings at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, as many services are cancelled amid mass rail disruption

The sun rises on a warm early morning over the countryside at Dunsden in Oxfordshire today

'This will make it the hottest day on record and the first time we have seen temperatures as high as 40C.

'There are likely to be delays on roads, with road closures, as well as possible delays and cancellations to trains and maybe issues with air travel. This could pose a significant health risk to those stuck on services or roads during the heat.'

Boy, 14, believed to have drowned in River Thames

A 14-year-old boy is missing and is believed to have drowned after getting into difficulty in the Thames in west London.

Emergency services and the Government have reiterated urgent warnings about the dangers of trying to keep cool after several tragedies in waterways and reservoirs during the heatwave.

At just before 5pm yesteday, the Metropolitan Police were alerted by London Ambulance Service to reports that a child had entered the water at Tagg's Island in Hampton, Richmond.

Despite a search by officers, paramedics, London Fire Brigade and members of the public, efforts to find the boy were unsuccessful and the rescue operation was brought to an end at 6.40pm.

Efforts to recover his body will continue into the evening, with the boy's next of kin aware and being supported by specialist officers.

Superintendent Richard Smith, from the South West Command Unit, said: 'Despite the very best efforts of all involved, we must now sadly conclude that this young boy has died. His death is a tragedy and I cannot begin to imagine what his family will be going through.

'All our thoughts are with them. I know that on days like today when temperatures are at a record high, it might look appealing to jump in and cool off in rivers, reservoirs, lakes or other open water.

'Please don't. The dangers are real and this evening in Richmond we have seen the terrible consequences of what happens when it goes wrong. To young people in particular, I would urge you to be the person in your group of friends who says no and reminds others about the dangers. Your intervention could save a life and save another family from experiencing such an awful loss.'

Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Charlie Pugsley said: 'Our thoughts are with the teenager's family and friends. Please don't go into open water during this heatwave, it can be incredibly dangerous as the water is a lot colder than you'd expect. Anything below 15C is defined as cold water, and on average the UK and Ireland sea temperatures are just 12C. Rivers such as the Thames are colder - even in the summer.'

It came after the family of 13-year-old Robert Hattersley said they were 'absolutely devastated' after he died when he got into trouble in the River Tyne in Northumberland on Sunday.

Emergency services also confirmed the deaths of a 16-year-old boy in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, a 16-year-old boy in Bray Lake near Maidenhead, Berkshire, and a 50-year-old man in a reservoir near Leeds in similar circumstances.

Detective Inspector Phil Hughes, of Leeds CID, said: 'This incident (in Leeds) serves as a timely reminder about the dangers of swimming in open water.'

Northumbria Police said Robert's death in Ovingham 'does act as a poignant and timely reminder as to the potential dangers presented by water'.

The Crawcrook teenager's family said: 'It is impossible to put into words the heartbreak we are feeling. Robert was so kind and loving. We are absolutely devastated by what has happened. He brought a smile to so many people's faces and he will be missed by absolutely everyone who knew and loved him. We'd like to thank all the emergency services who worked so hard to try to find Robert, as well as everyone who has been in touch passing on their messages of condolence.'

Police said Robert's body was found after an extensive search, which started shortly before 4.15pm on Sunday.

Newly appointed Health Secretary Steve Barclay warned of 'significant dangers' for people tempted to swim in a river to cool off amid the soaring temperatures. Asked whether the public should be outside and visiting beaches, Mr Barclay told reporters people should use 'common sense' and follow the advice of public health experts. That meant 'hydration, covering up, being in the shade, avoiding the times of the day when heat is at its peak'.

He added: 'There is a particular message, particularly for teenagers, children, some of those who may be tempted to go for a swim - there's significant dangers of that, quite often when people go swimming in rivers when we have very hot weather. So it's following common sense steps and keeping an eye on neighbours and those who are vulnerable, and following the guidance that's been put out by the relevant bodies.'

Forecasters and NHS leaders have warned that thousands of people – even those who are fit and healthy – could die during the 'ferocious' heatwave, urging them to do 'as little as possible'.

But in a furious backlash, senior Tory MPs claimed people were becoming 'frightened of the heat'. Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'Great British common sense should be allowed to prevail'.

'I long for the day when the Government stops acting like Nanny telling everyone what to do, every institution panicking and the BBC telling us we're all going to die,' he said yesterday.

'If it's very hot, just give people advice – wear a hat, wear sun lotion, drink a lot of liquid. If you go to Italy or France, they don't just stop everything because it's hot.'

Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense group of backbench Tory MPs, said we were entering 'a cowardly new world where we live in a country where we are frightened of the heat'.

'It is not surprising that in snowflake Britain, the snowflakes are melting,' he added. 'Thankfully, most of us are not snowflakes.'

Former Tory Health Minister Edwina Currie warned against 'too much hectoring'.

She called on the Government to promote 'more positive messages' in hot weather, such as going to work and school early in the morning and 'having a siesta' to stay out of the sun.

Former Northern Ireland First Minister Dame Arlene Foster branded the warnings 'Government over-reach', add-ing that 'all of this started with Covid regulations'.

She told BBC Politics Live people now 'expect the Government to tell them how to live their lives, which I think is absolutely wrong'.

Tory donor and Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie

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