Latest news with #GrahamMadge
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Why does London get so hot?
Another heatwave is forecast with weekend temperatures in the south of England set to soar to as high as 30C degrees on Sunday. Then, on Monday, the Met Office has predicted temperatures could reach a sweltering 34C degrees in London. Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: 'Temperature models have been edging up slowly and we do believe that the temperatures will be the hottest on Monday in this heatwave period.' He added that it is 'most likely be an isolated temperature somewhere in the South East, London or maybe Cambridge.' It could mean the country could see its hottest June day, with the previous record standing at 35.6C, recorded at both at Southampton Mayflower Park on June 28 1976 and at Camden Square, north London, on June 29 1957. So, why does it get so hot in the capital? And is there a reason London heat feels so much more unbearable? Lack of air conditioning Unlike other countries around the world that experience temperatures above 30C degrees, most houses in the UK are not fortunate enough to have air conditioning to escape the heat. While there are air-conditioned shops and offices in London, not all public transport has the luxury – resulting in some very sticky commutes. However, although air-conditioning in city centre shops offer some relief, waste heat from air conditioners and vehicles can add warmth to the surroundings, increasing temperatures. Buildings are designed for cold weather For most of the year, weather in the UK is not baking sunshine, but instead a chillier climate, as a result houses are designed to keep the heat in. The country focuses on making homes insulated to reduce energy usage and retain heat in winter, but that means it can get very hot in the summer. Dr Oscar Brousse, an expert in Urban Meteorology at University College London, told the Independent: 'Buildings absorb heat efficiently because of their radiative and thermal properties induced by the common materials we use to build them.' She added: 'These properties can be changed, by implementing green or cool roofs, for example.' Concentration of people in urban areas The urban heat island effect is another phenomenon that occurs with a dense population. 'Living in a city can increase vulnerability to heat. Many deaths during heatwaves occur because of the combined effect of high temperatures and the urban micro-climate,' the Met Office has warned previously. Buildings absorb rather than reflect the sun's heat, the forecaster explained. Dr Brousse added: 'Buildings also release heat really efficiently and can cool down quickly. 'The issue in urban environments is that this heat is then radiated back to surrounding buildings, therefore delaying the cooling process and leading to the so-called 'urban heat island effect', particularly pronounced in the early morning just before sunrise; the coolest hours of the day.' In cities like London, tall buildings and narrow streets reduce wind speeds, and the removal of trees reduces the natural cooling effect of shading and evaporation, the Met Office said. Air pollution Pollution from car fumes and planes overhead not only decreases air quality but also increase heat by trapping it in. 'Air pollution can also cause the effect of a micro greenhouse gas layer, stopping heat from radiating back into the atmosphere,' the Met Office said. Dr Brousse said: 'Certain aerosols may indeed impact incoming solar radiation, in particular, and reflect back part of the incoming energy, thus having a protective effect. 'It can also contribute to increase cloud coverage which have important implications on heating/cooling of land during day/night.' London's location The record-breaking temperatures are often recorded in London and Kent - which are the furthest South and East parts of the British Isles. Dr Brousse explained that heatwaves tend to come from southern and eastern continental climates. He said: 'As they progress further North, they lose energy, thereby making Southerner parts hotter relatively speaking. 'All of this contributes to hotter temperatures on average in the southeast of England. On top of this, London observes a pronounced urban heat island which further increases the average temperatures experienced in the city.'
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Forecasters predict heatwave for parts of UK with temperatures to hit 30C
Temperatures are set to soar over the coming days with a heatwave that could bring a 'possibility' that Britain could see its hottest June day. The heat is building and the humidity is rising for many places but not for everyone this weekend, according to the Met Office. The majority of the UK could see figures of about 25C while London and the South East could be set for 26-28C – but Monday is when the top temperatures are likely to reach 33-34C. The June record stands at 35.6C, recorded both at Southampton Mayflower Park on June 28 1976 and at Camden Square, north London, on June 29 1957. Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: 'There is a chance that we could meet or exceed that threshold set in 1976 and 1957.' 'It is around a 20 per cent chance we could see weather observing stations exceed that – it is possible, not probable. 'Temperature models have been edging up slowly and we do believe that the temperatures will be the hottest on Monday in this heatwave period.' He added that it is 'most likely be an isolated temperature somewhere in the South East, London or maybe Cambridge.' A second amber heat health alert in two weeks is set to come into force on Friday. The alert, which covers London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, starts at midday on Friday and will last until 6pm on Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same time period, with the agency warning of significant impacts across health and social care services. It comes as temperatures could reach 28C on Friday in central and southern England, before rising to 30C on Saturday, then a potential 31C on Sunday, before peaking between 32C and 34C on Monday, the Met Office said. An amber alert was previously issued for all regions in England on June 19, the first time it had been used since September 2023. On the same day, temperatures reached 32.2C in Kew, west London, before heatwaves were declared across England and Wales. 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. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: 'Our findings show that heat, especially at the sort of temperatures we are likely to see at the beginning of next week, can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions. 'It is, therefore, important to check on friends, family and neighbours who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.' The Met Office said that south-westerly winds on Friday look set to draw warmer and more humid air across large parts of England which is 'setting the stage for a notably warm weekend'. The forecaster added: 'Cloud and outbreaks of rain are expected to limit the warmth across northern and some western parts, the East and South East are likely to see drier conditions and prolonged sunshine, allowing temperatures to exceed 27C from Friday onwards. 'Southern coasts may stay cooler due to onshore breezes, low cloud or coastal mist. Temperatures are forecast to rise further on Saturday and Sunday, likely peaking on Monday. 'There remains a good chance of exceeding the medium threshold, especially across east and south-east England where a peak value of 33-34C could be observed – 30C could also be reached in parts of the West (Midlands) and East Midlands and the South West.' With minimum temperatures of 16C, there will also be some warm and humid nights ahead. Sun screen will be needed for anyone who goes out in the sun as UV levels are going to be high and hay fever suffers will have to deal with high grass pollen levels. Thunderstorms are also possible across central parts on Monday before slightly fresher conditions are expected to arrive on Tuesday.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Forecasters predict heatwave for parts of UK with temperatures to hit 30C
Temperatures are set to soar over the coming days with a heatwave that could bring a 'possibility' that Britain could see its hottest June day. The heat is building and the humidity is rising for many places but not for everyone this weekend, according to the Met Office. The majority of the UK could see figures of about 25C while London and the South East could be set for 26-28C – but Monday is when the top temperatures are likely to reach 33-34C. The June record stands at 35.6C, recorded both at Southampton Mayflower Park on June 28 1976 and at Camden Square, north London, on June 29 1957. Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: 'There is a chance that we could meet or exceed that threshold set in 1976 and 1957.' 'It is around a 20 per cent chance we could see weather observing stations exceed that – it is possible, not probable. 'Temperature models have been edging up slowly and we do believe that the temperatures will be the hottest on Monday in this heatwave period.' He added that it is 'most likely be an isolated temperature somewhere in the South East, London or maybe Cambridge.' A second amber heat health alert in two weeks is set to come into force on Friday. The alert, which covers London, the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, starts at midday on Friday and will last until 6pm on Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also issued a yellow alert for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands for the same time period, with the agency warning of significant impacts across health and social care services. With an Amber Heat Health alert declared for the East Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London, it's worth watching out for those who might find it difficult to cope with high temperatures. ☀️ 🌡️ Check our blog post for handy tips: — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 27, 2025 It comes as temperatures could reach 28C on Friday in central and southern England, before rising to 30C on Saturday, then a potential 31C on Sunday, before peaking between 32C and 34C on Monday, the Met Office said. An amber alert was previously issued for all regions in England on June 19, the first time it had been used since September 2023. On the same day, temperatures reached 32.2C in Kew, west London, before heatwaves were declared across England and Wales. 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. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: 'Our findings show that heat, especially at the sort of temperatures we are likely to see at the beginning of next week, can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions. 'It is, therefore, important to check on friends, family and neighbours who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.' The Met Office said that south-westerly winds on Friday look set to draw warmer and more humid air across large parts of England which is 'setting the stage for a notably warm weekend'. The forecaster added: 'Cloud and outbreaks of rain are expected to limit the warmth across northern and some western parts, the East and South East are likely to see drier conditions and prolonged sunshine, allowing temperatures to exceed 27C from Friday onwards. 'Southern coasts may stay cooler due to onshore breezes, low cloud or coastal mist. Temperatures are forecast to rise further on Saturday and Sunday, likely peaking on Monday. 'There remains a good chance of exceeding the medium threshold, especially across east and south-east England where a peak value of 33-34C could be observed – 30C could also be reached in parts of the West (Midlands) and East Midlands and the South West.' With minimum temperatures of 16C, there will also be some warm and humid nights ahead. Sun screen will be needed for anyone who goes out in the sun as UV levels are going to be high and hay fever suffers will have to deal with high grass pollen levels. Thunderstorms are also possible across central parts on Monday before slightly fresher conditions are expected to arrive on Tuesday.
