Latest news with #Coningsby
BBC News
2 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Where are the hottest places in the UK?
When hot spells of weather arrive in the UK, you may have noticed that some locations seem to more often record the highest temperatures. So where are the UK's hotspots? What is so special about these sites that make them more likely to see the hottest weather? Eastern England tops the charts If you like your weather extremely hot, then eastern England is the place to be. Eight out of ten of the UK's hottest days ever recorded were from locations in eastern England. This includes the current UK temperature record of 40.3C set on 19 July 2022 in Coningsby, England often sees the highest temperature in the UK for a number of reasons. It is well away from the prevailing westerly winds which bring in fresher air from the Atlantic. Its proximity to Europe helps too as any hot weather that develops over the continent can more easily spread in. Much of eastern England is relatively low with many areas below 100m elevation. This is important, because for every 100m higher a location is, temperatures drop by 1C. The sun's energy is more concentrated in the south of the UK than the north, this can lead to higher temperatures. Also atmospheric pressure tends to be higher to the south of the UK, this means more sunshine and more heat. Urban heat island effect hits London Each day the Met Office records the location with the highest maximum temperature, with Heathrow, Kew and St James's Park seeming to often feature. These sites are all within Greater heavily built up areas with lots of concrete and asphalt heat up more quickly, and hold on to that heat much more than rural areas. The city acts as a big storage heater so overnight temperatures don't fall as far as those in the countryside which is known as the urban heat island effect. During warm spells, temperatures will often start the day from a much higher point with the heat continuing to build through the morning and afternoon. Both daytime and night time temperatures can then climb over consecutive days during warm out of 12 of the UK calendar month records are set by locations in Greater London, testament to the heating power of London's urban heat island. Santon Downham and Usk feature frequently Santon Downham (Suffolk) is another site that seems to pop up frequently as the day's hotspot. Although some heat could easily waft here from the heat islands of London or Cambridge, there is another explanation for the high temperatures. This area has sandy soils and these drain water very efficiently. This means a greater proportion of the sun's energy goes into heating the ground rather than evaporating water in the soil. This warmer ground then goes on to heat the surrounding air, making it a UK hotspot. Usk in Monmouthshire is a frequent Wales hotspot. This lowland site is sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds by the mountains of the Brecon Beacons with temperatures sometimes boosted by the foehn effect. During heatwaves, hot air from the Midlands can easily drift here too. Meanwhile, if the winds are blowing from the east over the Cambrian mountains or Eryri (Snowdonia), watch out for Trawscoed (Ceredigion) or Porthmadog (Gwynedd) also making the hotspot Northern Ireland, Castlederg (County Tyrone) often tops the list. This site is on low ground and is sandwiched between the Blue Stack Mountains to the west and the Sperrins to the east. Again this means that the foehn effect can boost temperatures here whether the winds are coming from either the west or the east. Warmest spots in winter Looking back at the list of the UK's highest calendar month temperatures for the winter months, both the December (18.7C) and January (19.9C) records are from Achfary in the northwest Scottish Highlands. We don't get as much energy from the sun during winter, so other factors can be much more important for warmth. The Atlantic Gulf Stream boosts sea temperatures to the west of the UK, with much cooler waters forming in the North Sea. This means western areas will often have milder winter weather with St Mary's, (Isles of Scilly) often a winter warm spotThe foehn effect (which gives Usk its summer hotspot status) has a few different causes but can be really important for boosting winter temperatures too. Warm moist air rises up over mountains, with rain on the windward slopes. The air cools as it rises. Drier air descends on the other side of the mountain, and this drier air warms at a greater rate. This can lead to much warmer air forming to the lee of mountains. Mountains can also block cloud from moving in, so the lee side of the mountain can be much sunnier, this can also boost temperatures. Finally, winds moving over the mountains can mix down different airmasses, causing warmer air to arrive in valley like Altnaharra, Tulloch Bridge, Lossiemouth and Aboyne are frequently winter warm spots due to the foehn effect.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Will it be the hottest EVER day near you during Britain's 34C heatwave? Type in your postcode to find out...
With Britain set to sizzle in a 34C heatwave that could last all week, find out if it is going to be the hottest day ever recorded near you. Powered with Met Office statistics dating back as far as 1853, the Daily Mail's new search tool shows how your local weather station's mercury reading compares historically. Just type in your postcode to see whether the Caribbean-esque temperatures are record-breaking or merely run-of-the-mill. Our widget – available to use below – will reveal what the hottest day ever recorded was in your area, and how high the mercury got then. Britain's hottest ever day was on July 19, 2022, when temperatures in Coningsby in Lincolnshire hit an astonishing 40.3C. During July's persistent heatwave, when the country flocked to beaches to bask in the 35C sunshine, the Met Office said it was 'virtually certain' soaring temperatures has 'increased the occurrence and intensity of extreme heat events'. The high of 34.7C, logged at the St James's Park weather station in London, on July 14, is the highest on record this year. Our tool reveals that was 2.6°C higher than the average for that day over for the past 107 years. Not all of the 168 Met Office weather stations used in our tool have comparable data going back over a century, although they have all been in action since 1980. Newer stations were excluded from our analysis. It comes as the country is on alert for wildfires after a major incident in Dorset where 100 firefighters battled a blaze that ravaged hundreds of acres of land at the weekend. Other crews tackled a large blaze on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh yesterday, and a big fire at Newton Heath near Swanage, which has been burning since last Sunday. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three days in a row, with thresholds varying from 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) in different areas. The Met Office forecast for London, which has a 28C threshold, said temperatures will hit at least that level daily until at least Sunday, with a 33C (92F) peak tomorrow. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow heat health alert from 12pm today until 6pm on Wednesday, covering all regions of England apart from the North.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
What are the UK weather records for July?
The hottest July temperature recorded in the UK is 40.3C, which was reached in Coningsby in Lincolnshire on July 19 2022. This was the first – and so far only – date on which temperatures above 40C have been officially recorded anywhere in the country. Before 2022, the record for the highest July temperature was 38.7C, which was reached at the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge on July 25 2019, according to Met Office data. Last year, temperatures climbed as high as 32.0C at both Heathrow and Kew Gardens in London on July 30. The 30C mark has been reached in July somewhere in the UK in every year since 2011, when temperatures peaked at only 27.4C. The highest temperature so far this month is 34.7C, which was measured at St James's Park in London on July 1. The average warmest July on record was in 2006, when the mean temperature for the UK across the month was 17.8C. Six of the top 10 warmest Julys have occurred since the start of the 21st century. The top 10 includes 2018 (the second warmest), 2021 (sixth), 2022 (seventh) and 2019 (10th). Met Office data for temperature begins in 1884. The UK's sunniest July on record was in 1955, when an average of 256.9 hours of sunshine were measured during the month. The most recent year to appear in the top 10 sunniest Julys is 2018, sitting in seventh place with 234.0 hours. Met Office data for sunshine starts in 1910. The driest July since records began was in 1868, when an average of just 23.2mm of rain was measured across the UK. The top 10 driest Julys includes no years from the 21st century and only four years from the 20th century: 1955 (in third place), 1913 (fourth), 1984 (sixth) and 1983 (eighth). Rainfall records begin in 1836.
The Independent
28-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Amber heat health alerts issued across UK as temperatures set to soar above 30C
Amber heat health alerts have been issued for large parts of England as temperatures are set to rise to 30C in the South East on Saturday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the amber heat-health alert from 12pm on Friday to 6pm on Tuesday. The warning affects East Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London, the UKHSA said. A yellow health warning is also in place in Yorkshire and the Humber and the West Midlands. The alert is the second highest, behind red, on the UKHSA's system, and the agency has warned of the possible impacts on health and social services. The UKHSA's weather health alert system provides early warning to the health and social care sector when adverse temperatures are likely to impact the health and well-being of the population. Another heatwave could be on the way this week, with temperatures forecast to reach 30C. On Friday, temperatures reached 29C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, and the weather is forecast to climb over the next couple of days, according to the Met Office. North-west England, parts of Northern Ireland and southern Scotland could see some rain on Saturday, and Scotland will see average temperatures for the time of year, but across England it could hit between 29C and 30C in the south east, the forecaster said. On Sunday, temperatures will pick up, north-western Scotland may still see rain, but everywhere else will be warmer, with expected highs of 30-31C in the south east. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. The East Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London have been given a risk score of 12 out of 16, meaning there will be 'significant impacts across health and social care services' due to the high temperatures. The UKHSA warned high temperatures could cause a rise in deaths, particularly among those over 65 or with health conditions. Younger age groups may also be affected, it said. It also warned that there will likely be an increase in demand for health services, and indoor environments overheating, increasing the risk to vulnerable people. There may also be issues managing medicines and an increased demand for power exceeding capacity, the UKHSA said. Yorkshire and the Humber and the West Midlands, which have been issued a yellow warning, were given a risk score of 10 out of 16, meaning "significant impacts are possible" due to high temperatures. Many charities have also issued warnings as the hotter weather continues this week. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is encouraging people with heart conditions to take precautions to minimise potential health risks during a heatwave. Meanwhile, Age UK has urged people to check in on older relatives, friends, and neighbours to see if they need anything and to make sure they are not feeling overwhelmed by the excessive heat.
Bloomberg
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Bloomberg
UK Temperatures Could Hit 30C on Saturday Amid Amber Health Alert
Temperatures could hit 30C on Saturday amid the second amber heat health alert in two weeks. On Friday, temperatures reached 29C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, and the weather is forecast to climb over the next couple of days, according to the Met Office.
