Millions swelter as UK endures its 1st extreme heat warning

Jul 17, 2022, 1:36 PM | Updated: Jul 20, 2022, 2:10 am

People sit and lie in the sun and shade backdropped by Tower Bridge, during hot weather in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain's first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

People swim in the elevated pool, called Sky Pool, in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain's first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Traffic crosses a bridge at Woodhead Resevoir in West Yorkshire, England, Monday, July 18, 2022 as water levels dip dangerously low amid record high temperatures in the UK. Millions of people in Britain stayed home or sought shade Monday during the country's first-ever extreme heat warning, as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moved north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Traffic crosses a bridge at Woodhead Reservoir in West Yorkshire, England, Monday, July 18, 2022 as water levels dip dangerously low amid record high temperatures in the UK. Millions of people in Britain stayed home or sought shade Monday during the country's first-ever extreme heat warning, as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moved north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

People sit covering their heads from the sun after a scaled down version of the Changing of the Guard ceremony took place outside Buckingham Palace, during hot weather in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain's first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

A man sunbathes on the beach at Mousehole, Cornwall, in England, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as authorities prepare for record high temperatures that are already disrupting travel, health care and schools. The “red” alert will last throughout Monday and Tuesday when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, according to the U.K. Met Office, the country’s weather service. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)

A couple sunbathe on Blyth beach, Northumberland, on the north east coast of England, Monday July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as authorities prepare for record high temperatures that are already disrupting travel, health care and schools. The “red” alert will last throughout Monday and Tuesday when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, according to the U.K. Met Office, the country’s weather service. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

People prepare to enter the sea in Penzance, Cornwall, England, Monday July 18, 2022. The British government have issued their first-ever "red" warning for extreme heat. The alert covers large parts of England on Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, the U.K. Met Office, the country's weather service, said Friday. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)

A man runs past an ice-cream sign, on the south bank of river Thames, in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The palace of Westminster stands on the north bank of river Thames, in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

A man sits on a bench on the south bank of river Thames, in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

CAPTION CORRECTS TO WOMAN A woman runs on the south bank of river Thames, in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

A woman holds an umbrella to shelter from the sun, as she walks on the south bank of river Thames, in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

An employee stands by a gate at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, which is temporarily closed due to the hot weather as record temperatures hit the UK, Monday July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

Low water levels are seen at Scammonden Reservoir in West Yorkshire as reservoir levels dip dangerously low amid record high temperatures in the UK. The UK's first ever red warning for exceptional heat came into force at midnight on Sunday, with temperatures expected to climb up to 41C (105.8F) over the next two days, breaking the country's heat records, Oldham, England, Monday, July 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

A polar bear at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster keeps cool in a lake, as the park is temporarily closed due to the hot weather as record temperatures hit the UK, Monday July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

A police officer givers water to a British soldier wearing a traditional bearskin hat, on guard duty outside Buckingham Palace, during hot weather in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. The British government have issued their first-ever "red" warning for extreme heat. The alert covers large parts of England on Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, the U.K. Met Office, the country's weather service, said Friday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

A tourist uses a fan whilst standing in the hot sun whilst waiting to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, during hot weather in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain's first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

A member of the public walks a dog at Scammonden Reservoir in West Yorkshire, England, Monday, July 18, 2022 as reservoir levels dip dangerously low amid record high temperatures in the UK. Millions of people in Britain stayed home or sought shade Monday during the country's first-ever extreme heat warning, as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moved north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Traffic crosses a bridge at Woodhead Resevoir in West Yorkshire as water levels dip dangerously low amid record high temperatures in the UK. The UK's first ever red warning for exceptional heat came into force at midnight on Sunday, with temperatures expected to climb up to 41C (105.8F) over the next two days, breaking the country's heat records, Oldham, England, Monday, July 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Sweat drips down the face of a member of the Household Troop at Horse Guards Parade in central London, Monday July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as authorities prepare for record high temperatures that are already disrupting travel, health care and schools. The “red” alert will last throughout Monday and Tuesday when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, according to the U.K. Met Office, the country’s weather service. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)

A man runs on the south bank of river Thames, in London, Monday, July 18, 2022. Britain’s first-ever extreme heat warning is in effect for large parts of England as hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moves north, disrupting travel, health care and schools. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

A young family of Tufted ducks walk near to a soldier from the Queen's Guard on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace during warm weather in London, Sunday July 17, 2022 The Met office has issued its first-ever “red warning” of extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures in southern England may reach 40 C (104 F) for the first time. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)

People sit on the sun-parched grass in Greenwich Park with the City of London skyline in the background in London, Sunday July 17, 2022. Britain's weather agency has issued its first-ever "red warning" of extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures in southern England may reach 40 C (104 F) for the first time. (AP Photo/Tony Hicks)

People sit on the sun-parched grass in Greenwich Park with the Maritime museum and Canary Wharf financial district in the background in London, Sunday July 17, 2022. Britain's weather agency has issued its first-ever "red warning" of extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures in southern England may reach 40 C (104 F) for the first time. (AP Photo/Tony Hicks)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON (AP) — Millions of people in Britain stayed home or sought shade Monday during the country’s first-ever extreme heat warning, as the hot, dry weather that has scorched mainland Europe for the past week moved north, buckling rail lines and forcing two airports to close their runways.

The red heat alert covers a big chunk of England and is to last through Tuesday, when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, according to the Met Office, the U.K.’s meteorological agency.

The extreme heat warning stretches from London in the south to Manchester and Leeds in the north.

The temperature Monday reached 38.1 C (100.6 F) at Downham in eastern England, just shy of the highest-ever recorded in Britain — 38.7 C (101.7 F), a record set in 2019. The country isn’t at all prepared to handle such heat — most homes, schools and small businesses in Britain don’t have air conditioning.

Wales provisionally recorded its highest-ever temperature, the Met Office said: 37.1 C (95.5 F) at Hawarden in northeastern Wales.

At least four people were reported to have drowned across the U.K. in rivers, lakes and reservoirs while trying to cool off.

Flights were suspended at London’s Luton Airport as engineers repaired the runway “after high surface temperatures caused a small section to lift.” RAF Brize Norton, a major air force base northwest of London, also closed its runway because of the heat. The air force said “aircraft are using alternative airfields in line with a long established plan.”

Temperatures are expected to rise further as the warm air moves north on Tuesday, Met Office CEO Penelope Endersby said.

“So it’s tomorrow that we’re really seeing the higher chance of 40 degrees (104 F) and temperatures above that,” Endersby told the BBC. “Forty-one isn’t off the cards. We’ve even got some 43s in the model, but we’re hoping it won’t be as high as that.”

Hot weather has gripped southern Europe since last week, triggering wildfires in Spain, Portugal and France. Almost 600 heat-related deaths have been reported in Spain and Portugal, where temperatures reached 47 C (117 F) last week.

Climate experts warn that global warming has increased the frequency of extreme weather events, with studies showing that the likelihood of temperatures in the U.K. reaching 40 C (104 F) is now 10 times higher than in the pre-industrial era. Drought and heat waves tied to climate change have also made wildfires harder to fight.

Officials in southern France’s Gironde region announced plans to evacuate an additional 3,500 people from towns threatened by the raging flames. More than 1,500 firefighters and water-bombing planes are trying to douse the flames in the region’s tinder-dry pine forests.

In Britain, train operators asked customers not to travel unless absolutely necessary, saying the heat was likely to warp rails and disrupt power supplies, leading to severe delays. Some routes were running at reduced speed or shutting down entirely in the afternoon amid peak temperatures.

Medical appointments were canceled to relieve strains on the National Health Service. Some schools closed while others set up wading pools and water sprays to help children cool off. Most British schools have not yet closed for the summer.

The extreme heat even led Parliament to loosen its strict dress code. The Speaker of the House of Commons said male lawmakers could dispense with jackets and ties for the week.

The high temperatures are even more of a shock since Britain usually has very moderate summer temperatures. Across the U.K., average July temperatures range from a daily high of 21 C (70 F) to a low of 12 C (53 F).

But nightfall on Monday will bring little relief from the heat, with the Met Office forecasting temperatures of 29 C (84 F) at midnight in London. Monday night will be “very oppressive” and it will be difficult to sleep, Chief Meteorologist Paul Davies said.

“Tomorrow is the day where we are really concerned about a good chance now of hitting 40 or 41 C, and with that all the health conditions that come with those higher temperatures,” he said.

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