The forecasters have confirmed that parts of England are now on course to reach a record-breaking 104F (40C) next week, so Hammersmith Bridge has been covered in silver insulation foil to reflect the sun during the heatwave.
A £420,000 “temperature control system” has been installed on the Grade II*-listed bridge in West London to lessen the strain on its cast-iron pedestals, where fractures widened in an August 2020 heatwave and necessitated its closure.
The bridge now has what the council described as a “giant air conditioning unit on each of the four pedestal chains,” which are anchored to the river bed and controlled to be kept under 13C (55F) in the summer.
The bridge was reopened to pedestrians, cyclists, and river traffic in July 2021. The bridge will be closed if any of them rise above 18C (64F).
On the 135-year-old bridge over the River Thames, the cooling system is now being operated through the night, and portions of the chains that are above the water are being wrapped in silver insulation foil that reflects sunlight.
Sebastian Springer, the project manager, stated: “The safety of the general public is our top priority.
We can monitor weather fluctuations and keep the temperature steady thanks to the temperature control system.
We are developing creative solutions to keep the temperature within the threshold as we deal with the current extreme heat.
As the nation braces for record-breaking temperatures, schools are considering a number of measures, including early dismissal of students, the elimination of physical education classes, and the prohibition of children from playing outside.
As a result of the Met Office’s 72-hour amber warning for “extreme heat” posing “a danger to life” starting on Sunday, students at three primary schools in Herefordshire have already been informed that they will not be permitted to play outside.
In order to help students stay cool, schools are encouraging them to wear T-shirts and shorts instead of other clothing.
While parents at Marlbrook, Little Dewchurch, and St Martin’s primary schools were informed that PE lessons will be eliminated and students will not be permitted to play outside, The Hereford Academy announced an earlier start and finish to the school day.
We are also giving parents the choice to keep kids at home on Monday, the letter continued.
With regard to the cancellation of sports day, Crestwood Community School in Eastleigh, Hampshire, stated that “we do not feel that it is safe for students to be out in the heat for the duration of the day, participating in physical activity.”
The headteacher of Clapton Girls’ Academy in East London issued a warning about an early dismissal due to concerns that the school’s infrastructure won’t be able to handle the heat.
Even with fans, many classrooms are already quite hot, and students are having a hard time staying cool, staying hydrated, and paying attention in class, according to Anna Feltham.
Health officials worry that if temperatures do reach Death Valley in California, the world’s hottest spot, they may cause a large number of heat-related deaths that will strain the NHS.
The weather might cause health issues throughout the population, not just among those who are prone to excessive heat, according to the Met Office’s warning for the period from Sunday to Tuesday, which was issued earlier this week. This could result in serious illness or even threat to life.
Due to the impact of the heat on rail tracks, rail company Avanti West Coast has advised travellers who desire to utilize services between London Euston and Scotland to make advance plans.
The business warned that weekend services could be abruptly canceled and that timetable changes would apply to Monday and Tuesday trips.
Additionally, photos taken this week of parched rivers and reservoirs reveal the reality of the bone-dry region.
Due to the fact that the first half of the year was one of the driest on record in several regions of the UK, farmers are likely to face difficulties and the possibility of further increases in food costs.
Ministers attended their second Cobra civil contingencies committee meeting of the week yesterday, amid dire predictions from weather experts that a ‘frightening’ scorching hot wave starting on Sunday will result in “hundreds, if not thousands,” of further deaths.
Teaching unions warn that the heat will make it “possibly dangerous” for kids to engage in outdoor physical exercise, and the NHS will see a “surge” in patients suffering from heat-related illnesses.
The Met Office is still projecting that temperatures on Monday or Tuesday could be higher than the all-time high of 38.7C (102F) that was registered in Cambridge in 2019.
There is currently a 60% likelihood of shattering this record, according to forecasters.
Highs of 39C (102F) on Monday and 40C (104F) on Tuesday are predicted by BBC Weather.
However, the possibility of a wave of thunderstorms could bring an abrupt end to the second heatwave in a week.
In Yorkshire, where five million customers have been informed that a hosepipe restriction, a move not seen in Britain in ten years, cannot be ruled out, reservoirs were particularly low yesterday.
Despite the fact that politicians claim they are ‘not concerned’ about water supplies, others in the Peak District appeared to be hardly more than a trickle.
Water levels on the Waveney in Suffolk were ‘exceptionally low’ at about 30% of typical for the time of year, according to the Environment Agency, while several rivers were also completely dry.
The first half of the year saw two-thirds of East Anglia’s average rainfall, making it the 11th driest January to June period since records began in 1836 and the driest half of the year since 1996.
Between March and June, Wales, which is typically the wettest region of Britain, also experienced significantly less rainfall than usual, resulting in record-low river levels in Ceredigion.
Fish have already been killed by the unusually warm water in the rivers Wye and Usk, where fishing has been prohibited.
According to the Met Office, between July 1 and July 12, only 0.1mm (0.003in) of rain fell in West Sussex, the Isle of Wight, and the City of London.
Less than a tenth of the normal rainfall for the entire month of July, 66.48mm, fell in England’s first 12 days of the month, at 5.1mm (0.2 ins) (2.62ins).
Wales was also much drier than usual, with only 8.8mm (0.35ins) of rain compared to the average of 98.56mm for the entire month of July (3.88ins).
Water companies in the UK claim that supplies are still adequate, with the exception of Yorkshire Water, whose reservoirs have decreased to levels not seen since 1995.
Nevertheless, all have recommended customers to use less water throughout the summer.
Farmers have cautioned that the dry soil may reduce the harvests of wheat, barley, and other crops, thereby worsening the issue in the cost of living.
The lack of rainfall, according to Robert Anthony, who cultivates more than 1,200 hectares of land in the Vale of Glamorgan, “is having a major impact on all our crops.”
The milk yield has decreased by five litres per day per cow, according to Rhys Lougher, who farms a herd of 120 dairy cows close to Bridgend, South Wales.
This is because the animals are struggling in the heat.
He told Farmers’ Weekly, “They can handle the occasional scorching day, but a sustained spell takes its toll and we are apprehensive about this weekend.”
The National Farmers’ Union’s environment forum chairman, Richard Bramley, claimed that the industry’s approach to water management lagged “far behind” the demands of a changing climate.
After four days in a row with temperatures above 30C, this week’s conclusion has seen near-average temperatures and a few rains (86F).
But from Sunday through Tuesday night, a “amber” excessive heat warning is still in effect for most of England and Wales.
Due to the “frightening” heat next week, it caused former BBC weatherman John Hammond to issue a warning of “hundreds if not thousands of unnecessary deaths.”
We all enjoy pleasant weather, but for a few days, it won’t be pleasant; instead, it could be fatal, he told GB News. Even though it won’t last long, it will be harsh.
Kit Malthouse, a Cabinet Office minister, said the government was ready for a “surge” in demand for the NHS and other services after presiding over Cobra’s second meeting yesterday.
He stated on The World At One on BBC Radio 4 that “individual behavioral change” was “important.”
That entailed watching out for vulnerable populations like the elderly and young children, as well as doing “all the stuff they would do when it is very hot — wear a hat, drink water.”
But he assured that the country’s water resources were “good,” adding, “Right now, we are not concerned.”
With more than 2,500 heat-related deaths reported in England in the summer of 2020, experts call excessive heat a “silent killer.”
In order to prevent overheating, unions have asked businesses to let employees work from home or let them finish early. Some businesses have even started instructing employees not to report for work on Monday.
Age UK’s charity director, Caroline Abrahams, advised people to check on elderly friends, neighbors, and family members to see if they needed anything during the intense heat.
Although most schools will have already held their summer sports days, Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, warned that the weather might make it “possibly dangerous” for students to engage in outdoor physical exercise.
Wales’ Deputy Chief Medical Officer advised against engaging in strenuous activities at school, adding that “people will need to adjust some of their plans.”
The Rabbit Run through sand dunes at Merthyr Mawr, close to Bridgend, tomorrow has already received advice to slow down.
Additionally, owners have been urged to provide extra care for their animals at the upcoming Royal Welsh Show.
A “vortex” of moist air sweeping up from the Bay of Biscay, bringing with it thunderous rains, is the “most likely scenario,” according to Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern, as temperatures begin to “notably decrease” by midweek.
And climate change lecturer John Grant told the Mirror, “I think hundreds, if not thousands, are going to die in the UK if temperatures reach 40C.”
If we don’t prepare cooling centers and have a management strategy in place, what will happen is scary.
Beginning today, there will be bursts of showery rain moving south-east across parts of the UK’s north and center.
People in the South and South West should anticipate bright sunshine in the meanwhile.
Today is expected to be 26°C in London, 23°C in Cardiff, 20°C in Belfast, and 19°C in Edinburgh.
Additionally, Saturday will begin with cloudy skies and isolated showers in northern regions before becoming dry across the country as the intense heat moves in.
Despite the recent heat, June 17, when 32.7C (90.9F) was registered in London, continues to hold the record for the hottest day of 2022 thus far. But during the next few days, this peak will almost likely be smashed.
Older automobile owners have been advised to find alternate forms of transportation amid the severe temperatures.
‘People who have an older car, maybe the air conditioning doesn’t work, maybe it hasn’t been serviced for a long – the likelihood of it overheating is higher,’ said Edmund King, the organization’s president, to the Daily Telegraph.
You can drive in these temperatures, but your automobile needs to be in good condition.
The risks include things like melting roads, getting caught in traffic, and then experiencing troubles.
I’d say that, generally speaking, vehicles older than ten years are likely to have issues.
As long as they’ve been maintained, most cars over the past ten years will likely have air conditioning and be rather dependable.
Additionally, he advised people to travel with children to depart early in the morning or late in the evening.
Gatwick Airport, meanwhile, ran out of water yesterday as families took flights out of the south east during one of the hottest heatwaves in recent memory.
At Britain’s second busiest airport, a nearby burst water main affected SES Water’s supply, leaving only a few restrooms operational.
Gatwick apologized to travelers and announced that it will be giving out bottled water.
49-year-old Worthing resident Raquel Rodrigues, who is traveling to Spain, said, “We already had a flight cancelled, and now there are no restrooms.”
There are only two employees in the entire terminal, so you can imagine how long the lines are.
A representative for Gatwick stated: “Lower water pressure than usual has been experienced around the airport this morning due to a problem with the delivery of SES Water to Gatwick and the adjacent area.
To guarantee that this problem is fixed as soon as possible, we are collaborating closely with SES Water.
“Bottled water is being made accessible to passengers and employees around the airport, and other contingency measures are being put in place to protect the welfare of our passengers,” reads a statement from the airport.
‘We have found a burst water main in Shipley Bridge, Crawley, and are working diligently to rectify this,’ a SES Water spokesman said.