Tuesday was officially the hottest day ever recorded in both England and Wales, with the temperature reaching 35.1°C at Kew Gardens in south‑west London and 32.9°C in Cardiff’s Bute Park.
The extreme heat has caused widespread disruption. Rail services across southern England have been severely affected, with delays and operational changes attributed to high temperatures and concerns over track deformation. In one incident, more than 250 passengers travelling from Faversham were stranded inside a tunnel for nearly four hours, while others missed connecting Eurostar services to Paris.
At the same time, at least 10,000 households in Kent and East Sussex have been left without water, prompting suppliers to urge residents to limit usage to essential needs such as drinking, washing and cooking.
As temperatures soar, many people have sought relief at beaches, rivers and lakes. However, this has led to tragic consequences. Since Sunday, four teenagers have drowned in separate incidents across the country, while a 60‑year‑old man died attempting to rescue others at a beach in Cornwall.
The heatwave is part of a broader pattern affecting Europe. France is also experiencing unusually high temperatures, with readings above 30°C in several regions, including Paris. Authorities have issued weather alerts in multiple areas, while air quality has deteriorated due to increased ozone pollution linked to heat and sunshine.
Meteorological services report that hundreds of temperature records have been broken or matched in France, underlining the intensity of the current conditions.
Experts warn that such early and extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent, raising concerns about infrastructure resilience, public health and preparedness in countries less accustomed to very high temperatures.
Source: iefimerida.gr
