The United Kingdom today recorded a new temperature record for the warmest day ever in May, with the temperature reaching 35 degrees Celsius in London, the fourth day of an unusual heatwave, according to the Met Office.
Four teenagers have drowned in the country since Sunday, authorities said, apparently unaccustomed to such high temperatures and attempting to cool off.
The drownings occurred in waters across different regions of the country. One teenager died in the Sheffield area in the north, another near Manchester in the north, a third in Lincoln in the east, according to local police authorities, and a fourth near Birmingham in central England, according to county officials.
In addition, a 60‑year‑old man drowned while attempting to help other people in difficulty as they were bathing on a beach in Cornwall, British media reported.
The new temperature record set today broke yesterday’s record. On Monday, temperatures had already climbed to 34.8 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens, a botanical garden in south‑west London, according to the Met Office.
From England to Italy, part of Europe is facing a new wave of unprecedented heat for the month of May.
An “amber” health alert is already in effect for a large part of the United Kingdom, particularly in the south and in London, and will remain in force until Thursday at 17:00 local time.
Temperatures are expected to remain high throughout the week, with a noticeable drop forecast from Sunday, according to experts.
As for night-time temperatures, the night from Monday to Tuesday was also “the hottest ever recorded in May,” the Met Office noted. In some areas of the country, temperatures did not fall below 20°C, allowing it to be classified as a “tropical night.”
The heat has also caused disruption to rail services in the UK, as Network Rail imposed speed restrictions on trains.
