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The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
Dolphins seen leaping in waves as temperatures soar
A pod of dolphins was filmed leaping out of the water in Cullercoats Bay, North Tyneside, on Wednesday. The sighting occurred during the UK 's fourth heatwave of 2025, with temperatures reaching 34C on Tuesday. Sun seekers were enjoying the balmy temperatures on the nearby beach when the dolphins appeared. A yellow health alert was issued for most of England from Monday to Wednesday due to the heatwave. Watch the video in full above.
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
The UK beaches with the warmest seawater in Britain
WHEN summer temperatures soar, lots of Brits will flock to the beach, but dipping your toe into the sea is another story. The waters can still be chilly even though the sun is blazing, so where in the UK is actually warmest to swim? 4 The temperature of the sea around the UK can vary significantly, with lows in the winter of 6C to highs of 20C in summer. Of course, tTwind, ocean currents and depth. Sea temperatures near the coast will be at their highest when there are clear, sunny skies with low winds - these factors allow the water to warm up quickly. The further you go in, the temperature will begin to drop as the depth increases. Generally, the south and west coasts of the UK will have the warmest sea waters, and this year, they are warmer than usual. In July 2025, the Met Office revealed that the waters to the south of the UK are experiencing a marine heatwave. Sea surface temperatures in the Celtic Sea, English Channel, and Southern North Sea are 1.5C to 3C above 1982-2012 average. The marine heatwave is predicted to last until the end of August. A recent BBC study also revealed that the surface temperature of UK waters has risen by 0.2C, from the start of the year up until the end of July in 2025. The English seaside town with no arcades or rides but named the best in the UK 4 4 The two beaches that have the warmest waters are along the Channel coast, in Camber Sands and Hastings. The beaches along the southern coast of England tends to be warmer than Essex, especially in the winter months, due to its more southerly location. Both coastlines are influenced by the Gulf Stream - which is a powerful warm ocean current that carries heat from the tropics towards the North Atlantic. However, some of the warmest waters actually surround Essex including beaches like Clacton-on-Sea and those near Mersea Island. In the summertime, the Essex coast is warmer than most of the UK because of its proximity to mainland Europe. The drier and sunnier conditions that come with that causes water temperatures to rise. According to the current water temperature in Clacton-on-Sea, it's 18.7C. The data further reveals that the warmest sea temperatures today are in Thorpeness, Sizewell, Parkeston, Walton-on-the-Naze and Manningtree - which are all along the east coast of England and sit at 19C. Meanwhile in Sandwick, Scotland, sea temperatures are as low as 11.9C. While 19C does sound warm, it can still be a shock for your body, so be mindful before you dive in headfirst. A guide by The Outdoor Swimming Society has rankings of what various water temperatures mean - and how prepared for cold waters you should be. 0-6C is considered 'baltic', you'll need a wetsuit and it's unlikely you'll swim too far because it's so cold. 6-11C is 'freezing', still cold but a more manageable temperature. 12-16C is 'fresh' and quite enjoyable for open water lovers. 17-20C is considered 'summer swimming ' and this will be the temperature of lakes and rivers rather than the sea itself. 21C is 'warm' and 30C is 'pool temperature'. When taking children to the beach, be aware that they are less tolerant of cold water than adults and struggle to regulate body temperature more. 4 So it's safer for them to stick to paddling and splashing in the shallows than swimming further out. You can check the temperature of the sea with apps like Magic Seaweed, Windy, Seaside Buoy and Sea Water Temperature. It's also worth considering taking a look at the quality of the waters before diving in.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
2025 on track to beat UK record for wildfires, warn firefighters
UK firefighters have warned that 2025 is on track to beat the national record for wildfires, with frontline staff 'pushed to their limits'. On Wednesday, a major incident was declared in the North York Moors national park, with 20 fire engines deployed to tackle at least 5 sq km of moorland that has been burning since Monday. It follows a similar major incident over the weekend tackled by Dorset and Wiltshire fire service and a blaze at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. In England and Wales alone, crews have already tackled 856 wildfires this year, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said – a third higher than the record-breaking totals seen in 2022 and six times the number recorded last year – warning that hot and dry weather means the figures will likely only increase. The NFCC warned members of the public not to use barbecues in open countryside, parks and moorland areas. In addition, the organisation advised people not to discard cigarettes, matches or glass bottles, as they can ignite dry vegetation. The NFCC chair, Phil Garrigan, said firefighters were 'already being pushed to their limits' with recent major incidents 'showing just how demanding and dangerous these events can be'. 'Each wildfire can take days – sometimes weeks – to bring under control, tying up crews and specialist equipment and placing huge strain on other vital fire and rescue work. There's a real human toll on our firefighters too who are undertaking the most arduous work in the toughest conditions. 'We are already seeing more wildfires at this point in the year than in 2022 – which itself was a record year – and that is deeply concerning. This is against a backdrop of sustained cuts in funding and reducing firefighter numbers – with 11,000 fewer firefighters in England now than there were 10 years ago, alongside a 20% increase in demand over the same period. Climate change is fuelling more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and wildfires are no longer a seasonal threat; they are a persistent and growing risk to life, property, and the environment.' He called for 'long-term, sustained investment so that fire and rescue services have the people, resources, and equipment they need to protect our communities, no matter how many fronts they are fighting on'. Researchers say the sea surrounding the Yorkshire coast is likely to break temperature records in 2025. Temperatures are 2C higher than in the 1980s, putting at risk some species that are a key part of the food chain. Prof Rodney Forster, of the University of Hull, told the BBC the North Sea 'appears to be a bit of a hot spot, warming faster than anywhere else and we don't know yet why that is'.
