UK Faces First Red Extreme Heat Warning with Temperature Highs at 100 Degrees

The United Kingdom Meteorological Office has issued a red extreme heat warning for some areas of the country for the first time as the UK is expected to experience record-breaking warmth on Monday and Tuesday.

Red Extreme Heat Warning

The Iberian Peninsula has been the epicenter of what may turn out to be the worst heat wave to hit Europe in the previous 200 years. As the warmth moves further north into the United Kingdom and west as far as the valleys of Hungary, eastern Bosnia, eastern Croatia, Serbia, southern Romania, and northern Bulgaria, temperatures in Portugal and Spain could rise as high as 120°F.

By the end of the week, it is very likely that the 102°F record for the highest temperature ever recorded in the United Kingdom, which was set on July 25, 2019, will be broken.

Renee Duff, a meteorologist from AccuWeather, stated that on Monday and Tuesday of next week, the temperature in downtown London could get close to 100 degrees. In light of the extreme heat, July records may also be approached in Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin, and York.

Around mid-July, London's average temperature is around 70°F.

The upcoming "exceptional hot spell" is anticipated to take hold and bring "widespread impacts on people and infrastructure," with illness and death possible among even fit and healthy individuals, according to the UK Met Office's red extreme heat warning.

Extreme, possibly record-breaking temperatures are expected on Monday and Tuesday, according to the red warning. For the UK, nights are also likely to be unusually warm. This is especially true in urban areas. The City of London is among the areas under the heat advisory.

Read also: Flash Drought Hits Central and Eastern United States; Temperatures Exceed 100 Degrees Fahrenheit 

Here Comes the Heat

The BBC reports that the Hammersmith Bridge in London, which is undergoing extensive repairs, has been covered with enormous pieces of foil to prevent its supporting chains from heating up to dangerous levels that could compromise the bridge's structural integrity.

During a heatwave in 2020, the bridge was harmed when the cast-cracks iron's widened due to the high temperatures. If the supporting chains of the bridge reach a temperature of more than 64 F, the bridge must be closed.

The UK Met Office has issued a warning that the heat wave may result in several issues, including the possibility of power outages and the loss of essential services like cellular data and water, delays and cancellations in rail and air travel, as well as a rise in the risk of water safety incidents at popular beaches.

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has started the Severe Weather Emergency Response Protocol (SWEP) to help those without homes who will have to spend the heat wave sleeping on the streets. The protocol usually kicks in when it gets cold, but the potentially record-breaking heat wave has prompted unheard-of action.

Deadlier in Europe

Heat waves, a risk that can be fatal in the United States, are frequently even deadlier in Europe because there isn't air conditioning in the majority of homes and communities there. The 2003 heat wave that engulfed Europe in record heat and killed more than 30,000 people, directly and indirectly, may be matched or surpassed by this heat wave.

Locals and visitors to Europe will need to find ways to beat the heat without relying on air conditioning, which will only be available in sporadic places, AccuWeather reports.

Related article: Certain UK Counties To Experience Scattered Showers Before Massive Heatwave