In England, the amber warning by the Met Office stretches from London to Sheffield, covering parts of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire and is in place from 9am to midnight on Thursday, PA reported. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said temperatures in areas covered by the amber warning could reach highs of around 36, 37, possibly 38C. He noted that such high temperatures could impact infrastructure, railway lines, and roads, as they are not designed for this sort of heat. Additionally, more people are likely to be affected by the heat with regards to their health.
If temperatures exceed 38C, it could be the hottest day of the year so far, and if they exceed 38.5C, it could be the hottest August day on record, but that is actually pretty unlikely, Burkill added.
PA noted that the UK is facing increasingly extreme conditions such as heatwaves, drought and wildfires fuelled by climate change, which is mostly driven by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels for power plants, vehicles, heating and industry.
Heatwave in Spain
Spain is also expecting temperatures up to 40C, particularly in the southern regions. Local authorities are urging people to stay hydrated and avoid going out during the hottest hours.
Situation in the UK
In the UK, residents are flocking to parks and water bodies to cool down. In Birmingham, a person cycles through parched parkland, as captured by photographer Adam Vaughan.
Climate change impact
Experts warn that such extreme weather events will become more frequent due to climate change. Scientists emphasize that only reducing fossil fuel burning can prevent this situation.
Conclusion
The heatwave in Europe continues. Spain is bracing for temperatures up to 40C, while the UK has issued an amber warning. The public is urged to take precautions and protect themselves from the heat.