Latest news with #scorchingtemperatures
Khaleej Times
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Khaleej Times
UAE temperature crosses 50°C mark in Sharjah amid driest phase of summer
Temperatures in UAE crossed 50°C on July 14 as the summer sun continues to beat down on residents in the Emirates. Mercury recorded 50.2°C in Al Dhaid, Sharjah at 2pm, according to UAE's National Centre of Meteorology. The country is currently in the Jamrat Al-Qaid season, which is considered the hottest and driest phase of summer according to astronomers, as Khaleej Times earlier reported. The season is marked by scorching temperatures, expected to exceed 50°C during the day. Residents can also expect dry desert winds known as "samoom winds". However, even before summer peak began on July 3, temperatures in the UAE recorded a high of 51.6°C, the highest of 2025 so far, in Sweihan, Al Ain on May 24. As high temperatures are an everyday occurrence, authorities have warned road users to do regular checks of their vehicle, particularly tyre inspections. As the tyre comes in regular contact with the road amid scorching heat, preventive maintenance is essential to ensure that they do not burst and cause horrific accidents. Parents have also been warned not to leave their children unattended in vehicles for any period of time, no matter how short it may seem. Death may occur in minutes, officials warned. Officials have also issued guidelines for how to use electric appliances and store gas connections safely, as the summer heat creates an increasing dependence on power, and warrants more caution when using household devices than during other seasons.
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Summer-time revelry is set to continue as temperatures hit 30C as Britain records its third heatwave of the year
Parts of Britain are set to sizzle in 30C heat again today as the UK continues to bask in its third heatwave of the year. The scorching temperatures are a slight climb-down from the searing 33C recorded yesterday in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, yesterday afternoon, but continue to mark what has been a red-hot summer thus far in the UK. Scotland yesterday recorded its warmest day of the year with 32C reached in Aviemore in the Highlands, while areas like Belfast in Northern Ireland were as hot as they had been in almost three years. And by this afternoon, temperatures in cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester look set to smash the 30C mark again as the relentless heat continues to scorch the UK. Amber health alerts are in place for the Midlands and the south and east of England until 9am on Monday, which warn of a potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. The risk of wildfires in London is also currently rated at 'severe' by the Natural Hazards Partnership, while six million homes have been hit with a hosepipe ban as fire chiefs warn of the risk of drowning as people try to cool off in water. On top of the amber alerts, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has yellow warnings in place until Monday for the north east, north west and Yorkshire and Humber. And National Rail has also warned train passengers that the hot weather may continue to cause disruption today. Further north today, temperatures do begin to cool slightly with areas like Newcastle forecasted to hit a more manageable 22C. In Glasgow, this looks set to rise to 26C but along the M8 motorway to Edinburgh it is expected that this will drop to around 22C. Cardiff is also expected to be scorched again today with 30C forecast in the Welsh capital, while in Belfast temperatures could reach 26C. But today does appear to signal the last day of the UK's third heatwave of the year, with Met Office forecasters predicting that temperatures will largely cool next week in areas outside London. While the English capital will still be in the high 20s, cities like Liverpool and Newcastle are predicted to see heavy downpours early next week with maximum temperatures across the Midlands and north west being around 25C. But with the warm weather still around today, Ross Macleod, Water Safety Manager from the RNLI, warned of the dangers of cooling off in cold water and offered advice if doing so. He said: 'Even in hot weather, the seas around our coasts are cold enough year-round to trigger cold water shock, while waves and rip currents can overpower even the most experienced water users. 'Most people who find themselves in difficulty in water will panic or thrash about but we're urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It's fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. 'By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you've regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety. 'Heading to the coast is a great way to have fun, relax and cool off in these high temperatures, but remembering this one piece of advice could save your life if you find yourself struggling in water. 'We also encourage people to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, which is the area most closely monitored by the lifeguards.' Next week's cooler temperatures looks set to mark the end of the third heatwave, and scientists warning the latest searing temperatures have been made 100 times more likely because of human-made climate change. They say heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, and experts have warned heatwaves are 'silent killers', with the impacts of heat severely underestimated. They also say that the UK is unprepared for the rising risk of extremely hot conditions that climate change is bringing - especially earlier in the summer, when people are less acclimatised to coping with it. SCOTLAND: Lewis MacKay and Leia Paul from Muir of Ord take a cooling dip in Loch Ness on July 12, 2025 Dr Friederike Otto, associate professor at Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, previously said climate change was an 'absolute game-changer' for heat in Europe, making heat waves more frequent and more intense. 'Heat waves are called the silent killer, for a reason, every year thousands of people in Europe die due to extreme heat, particularly those that live in poorly insulated homes, on busy, polluted roads, and that already have health problems,' she said. 'But extreme heat also leads to agricultural losses, infrastructure failure and puts a big strain on plants and animals.' Conservationists and green experts have also previously warned of the wildfire risk of the heatwave as well as the impact on farmers, who face another poor harvest following one of the driest springs on record. Meanwhile retailers warned that fruit and vegetable prices in Britain were increasing due to the hot and dry weather reducing harvest yields. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said this jump had contributed to shop prices having returned to inflation for the first time in almost a year. SCOTLAND: Beata and Igor Gazdzik paddleboarding at Loch Morlich beach, near Aviemore on July 12, 2025 BERKSHIRE: Portable fans and water were deployed during the heatwave as racegoers arrived for the Racing to Zero Summer Mile Family Raceday at Ascot Racecourse on July 12, 2025 Overall shop prices were 0.4 per cent higher in June than a year earlier - a significant jump from the decline of 0.1 per cent seen in May, according to the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index. Food inflation increased to 3.7 per cent from May's 2.8 per cent in May, while fresh food was 3.2 per cent more expensive than a year ago. Meat prices have also been hit by high wholesale prices and more expensive labour costs. In terms of wildfires, Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation and restoration ecology at the National Trust, said: 'With record-breaking temperatures across the country this week following the driest spring on record, our ranger and countryside teams are on high alert for fires which can cause decades of damage to habitats, decimate ecosystems and result in significant losses to our wildlife. 'Unfortunately, the sad truth is that most of the fires in the UK that impact our landscapes are started by people, whether accidentally or not, rather than by natural causes. 'Therefore, we're calling on people to help us protect wildlife and habitats by acting responsibly when outdoors, as even a small spark can cause a fire, and to please call 999 if you see a fire or any suspicious behaviour.'
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Households told to put fans in one place in their home this weekend
SUN-loving Brits are set to enjoy scorching temperatures of up to 34°C today. But as the mercury rises, keeping cool indoors is proving tricky for many. 1 The Met Office has confirmed that large parts of the UK have officially met heatwave criteria. A heatwave is declared when a location experiences three consecutive days of temperatures meeting or exceeding 25°C in the north and west, and 28°C in Greater London and the Home Counties. Energy expert Les Roberts from Bionic has shared a simple trick to beat the heat, using fans and natural ventilation. He said: "Open opposite windows or doors to create airflow. " Place a fan facing outward at one opening to push hot air out, and another fan facing inward at the opposite opening to pull cooler air in. "This creates a strong cross-breeze." He says this works best in the evening, overnight or early morning, when outdoor temperatures are cooler than indoors. Les added: "The temperature difference enhances airflow, helping fans push hot air out and pull cooler air in. "It's a simple trick that can make a big difference, especially at night when temperatures drop." This cooling hack has already gone viral on TikTok, with user Zilovesscience racking up thousands of views for her demonstration. Six items every UK driver should remove from cars this weekend In the clip, Zilovesscience shows her fan pointing outward at an open window, saying: "The key is air circulation. "A fan pointing outward pushes warm, stale air out while pulling cooler air in from shaded areas or other parts of the house." One viewer commented: "Life-saving tip." Before using an old fan during the heatwave, make sure it's clean and functioning properly. Dust on the blades can reduce efficiency and blow particles around, potentially causing congestion if left running overnight. A quick clean will improve performance and help keep your space fresh. For the best cooling results, opt for an oscillating fan, which moves from side to side to circulate air evenly throughout the room. Most fans, even budget options, come with this feature, so check for it when buying a new one. How to stay safe in hot weather The UK Health Security Agency advised you follow these tips to reduce your risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke: Keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm If you are going to do a physical activity like exercising or walking the dog, plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun If you go outside, cover up with light clothing, a hat and sunglasses and slather on sun cream Drink plenty of fluids but limit booze Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you Source: UKHSA Other ways to keep cool in the heat Want to keep cool without breaking the bank? Try out these free hacks... Mop the floor Clean the house and keep cool at the same time by mopping the floor. The hack boils down to simple science. The water will absorb heat from the floor when it evaporates - and hey presto, your floor is cooler. It's just like you sweat when it's hot - it's your body's way of keeping your skin cool. TV presenter Kevin McCloud is reportedly a fan of this little-known hack. He told the Radio Times in 2022 that he learned the tip from "little old Italian men" who mopped their stone floors during hot temperatures. Defrost the freezer It may not be top of your list of fun things to do this weekend, but defrosting the freezer is a great way of cooling down. The cold air from the freezer will be a welcome relief, and will circulate around the room, helping to bring down the temperature. Experts estimate that not defrosting your freezer regularly could be costing households as much as £150 a year. So it's a win for your temperature and a win for your wallet too. Closing curtains will stop sunlight streaming through into your property and warming up the inside. The best time to do it is during the hottest parts of the day, between 10am and 4pm. Use this fan trick You can create a DIY "ice fan" by putting a container or bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan. This will make sees the air passing over the ice cooler. This hack isn't the most effective for larger rooms, but can work in smaller rooms like your bedroom. Little-known new build home rule If you live in a new build home, the good news is that it may have been designed to keep below a certain temperature. Building regulations state that bedrooms in new build homes must not exceed temperatures above 26C overnight. That means window and door openings will be designed to close if temperatures start to soar. Unfortunately, you won't benefit if you're not in one of these new builds - but there are other ways to keep cool. For example, you can close the curtains during the day, which will help to keep your home cool into the night.
