Met Office issues rare red weather warning as heatwave hits UK

{"text":[[{"start":7.55,"text":"The UK’s Met Office has issued a rare red warning for heat, as it forecast that temperatures could reach at least 39C later this week in southern England, breaking June records."}],[{"start":19.55,"text":"The British weather forecaster warned of “severe and significant impacts from this heatwave”, including on public health, transport, energy and water supplies. "}],[{"start":29.950000000000003,"text":"Much of western Europe is sweltering in hot conditions, with more than half of France also under a red alert. Highs of more than 40C are expected in France on Monday, prompting alcohol bans and school closures. "}],[{"start":43.95,"text":"This marks only the second time the Met Office has issued a red alert for heat. The red warning is in place from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday for parts of England and Wales. Amber weather warnings are currently in place for a wider area until Thursday."}],[{"start":60.85,"text":"Met Office deputy chief forecaster Mark Sidaway said: “Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat.”"}],[{"start":78.55,"text":"He warned that high humidity would make conditions feel worse than during the heatwave of July 2022, when temperatures reached 40C in Britain for the first time. "}],[{"start":89.64999999999999,"text":"The hot temperatures are being driven by warm air moving north from the Sahara Desert, which is then trapping hot air over western and central Europe."}],[{"start":97.55,"text":"June’s high temperatures come after a record-breaking May in the UK, where temperatures soared above 35C for the first time for that month. "}],[{"start":107,"text":"The previous June UK record of 35.6C was set during the summer of 1976. The Met Office said the Welsh June temperature record — 33.7C set in 2000 — was also likely to be broken. "}],[{"start":122,"text":"Overnight temperatures are also forecast to be very high across England and Wales, especially in urban areas, with the Met Office forecasting so-called tropical nights, where the temperature does not drop below 20C."}],[{"start":136.5,"text":"Lizzie Kendon, professor of climate science at the University of Bristol, said the breaking of temperature records was to be expected. “What is so extraordinary, however, is the margin by which the record will be broken.”"}],[{"start":151.35,"text":"Scientists have warned of increasing extreme weather events, including heatwaves, because of climate change. "}],[{"start":158.5,"text":"In Europe, the rate of warming is twice the global average, in part due to the proximity to the Arctic where the melt of snow and ice has exposed darker ground which absorbs the sun’s rays."}],[{"start":169.35,"text":"Global warming is estimated at a long-term average of about 1.3C since the Industrial era, as greenhouse gases continue to be released into the atmosphere."}],[{"start":179.29999999999998,"text":"The high UK temperatures come as MPs are due to debate the UK’s plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions later this week. "}],[{"start":186.39999999999998,"text":"Tens of thousands of people, including politicians and business executives, are attending London Climate Action Week in sweltering conditions. Some schools have cancelled sports days, rolled back uniform requirements or are planning to close early in order to deal with the high temperatures."}],[{"start":203.89999999999998,"text":"In the UK there is no heatwave legislation, despite unions calling for a maximum workplace temperature "}],[{"start":210.84999999999997,"text":"Joanne Thomas, general secretary at Usdaw, who has campaigned for a legal maximum working temperature of 30C, said employers should be obliged to adopt cooling measures when the temperature rises above 24C. “Heat stress is a real health and safety risk that can lead to more accidents and injuries,” she added."}],[{"start":230.74999999999997,"text":"One City boss said that his staff were more likely to come into the office than work from home during heatwaves to take advantage of the air conditioning."}],[{"start":239.29999999999998,"text":"Network Rail urged passengers to avoid all but “absolutely necessary” train travel in areas under a red alert on Wednesday and Thursday, warning that commuters should “expect disruption across the network”. "}],[{"start":251.6,"text":"“For safety reasons, trains will operate at reduced speeds and to amended timetables, meaning journeys will take longer and there is a heightened risk of delays, cancellations and last-minute alterations.”"}],[{"start":263.6,"text":"Friederike Otto, professor of climate science at Imperial College London, said: “This heat is not an inconvenience, it is a growing public health threat. Every heatwave puts lives at risk, and it’s long past time we treated it with the urgency it demands.”"}],[{"start":278.95000000000005,"text":"The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a series of heat health alerts, warning of “increased risk to life across the whole population, with significant impacts on older people”. It added that there was an increased risk of national critical infrastructure failures, such as generators and power outages."}],[{"start":298.20000000000005,"text":"Additional reporting by Ashley Armstrong"}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":301.20000000000005,"text":"Where climate change meets business, markets and politics. Explore the FT’s coverage here."}],[{"start":307.00000000000006,"text":"Are you curious about the FT’s environmental sustainability commitments? Find out more about our science-based targets here"}],[{"start":320.85,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1782209053_2310.mp3"}