Thousands brave the heat to watch summer solstice sunrise
Temperatures in Salisbury and Greater London reached 18C by 5am, according to the Met Office.
The weather bureau confirmed that Yeovilton in Somerset and Crosby in Merseyside recorded the highest overnight temperatures in England, both reaching 19.7C by 6am on Saturday.
Towns in Cumbria and Lancashire also recorded temperatures above 19C.
An amber heat-health alert for all regions in England remains in place for the weekend.
Solstice events at Stonehenge mark some of the rare occasions visitors are allowed close to the stones at the World Heritage site.
English Heritage said around 25,000 people were at Stonehenge, with more than 400,000 views from around the world on the charity's livestream of the sunrise, which was greeted by the traditional drumming, chanting and cheering.
People gather at Stonehenge (PA)
Richard Dewdney, English Heritage's head of operations at Stonehenge, said: 'Coming together at Stonehenge for the summer solstice is a tradition that brings people from near and far, to see in the start of the longest day and celebrate the changing seasons.
'This morning was a joyous and peaceful occasion with the most beautiful sunrise. It is fantastic to see Stonehenge continuing to enchant and connect people. From sunset to sunrise, there was a fantastic atmosphere enjoyed by all, making for a truly memorable experience.
'Ensuring summer solstice at Stonehenge is a safe, enjoyable and sustainable occasion is a major operation that relies on our exceptional staff, volunteers, and the invaluable support of our partners, notably Wiltshire Council and emergency services. We look forward to welcoming people to the summer solstice again next year.'
In the lead up to the event, both Stonehenge and Wiltshire Police posted social media warnings about heavy traffic and pedestrians.
Stonehenge is a monument built on the alignment of the midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset.
On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone -the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle – and rays of sunlight are channelled into the centre of the monument.
It is believed solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years.
(PA Graphics)
The summer solstice takes place as one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the sun as it reaches its highest position in the sky, ensuring the longest period of daylight for the year.
English Heritage curator of history Jennifer Wexler said people had been marking the solstice at the stones going back thousands of years.
'The solstice at Stonehenge is one of our most special moments,' she told an English Heritage live stream.
'It's the longest day of the year, but also the time when the sun is the highest in the sky.
'We think people were marking it here on site and gathering here for thousands of years.'
The sun rises over The Shard in London (PA)
The amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am on Monday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK weather maps show areas set to sizzle in 30C heatwave within days
Brits have seen plenty of hot and dry weather so far this year and there is more ahead with a blistering 30C heat bomb set to hit parts of the country in the coming days A weather map shows where Brits are set to swelter as a blistering 30C heat bomb hits the country in the coming days. The UK so far has seen several heatwaves this year and the hottest day was recorded at St James's Park in London on July 1 where the mercury reached 34.7C, while parts of Essex and Kent also topped 33C. In recent weeks the weather has remained largely warm but it has also been mixed with some torrential downpours. And now maps show a return to dry and sunny conditions in early August with high pressure expected to build - especially across southern areas of the country. Maps from WXCHARTS weather maps have turned a deep red colour indicating that millions will soon bask in balmy weather. The mercury is set to soar on Tuesday August 5 with temperatures forecast to be in the high 20Cs by midday. Large swathes of southern and central England are likely to experience a significant temperature spike. At 12pm on August 5, London as well as Surrey, Cornwall and Devon will already see highs of 26C. While the rest of south west and south east England are expected to see temperatures peak at 25C. The east of England and south Wales will also see 25C whilst the Midlands will be a degree cooler at 24C. By 6pm temperatures are predicted to be in the 30Cs. Southampton, Bournemouth, Oxford, Gloucester and Cheltenham will also bask in 30C weather, while the south east and east of England will see highs of 28C. Cities in the south west, including Bath and Bristol, could potentially see temperatures hit 30C, with 29C forecast. The east and west Midlands will not miss out on the heatwave with highs of 28C likely. Parts of south and mid Wales will bask in 27C weather. Elsewhere, Yorkshire and the Humber will see the mercury hover around 22C. The northwest will be significantly cooler, with temperatures forecast to reach only a rather miserable 17C. And the balmy weather will not end there as at 6pm on Wednesday, August 6, the mercury will hover between 27C and 28C for those in southern England. Meanwhile, in the Midlands highs of 27C forecast but for those in the north west it will not see the mercury reach the 20s with highs of 17C likely. Separately, in the Met Office's weather outlook for this period, the forecaster said: "During early August, high pressure may start to have greater influence as it builds northeast across the country. This is bringing more prolonged settled spells to many areas. Breeziest conditions across the north of the country. Temperatures generally near average, though with some warmer spells likely."
Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Met Office's brutal 40C heatwave verdict as UK climate 'escalates'
Following a series on intense heat spells, the Met Office have warned that UK heatwaves are about to get longer and hotter in the coming years - risking dangerously high temperatures of up to 40C Brits have been urged to brace for hotter and longer heatwaves, following alarming new data from the Met Office. The UK has been sweltering under sky-high temperatures in recent weeks thanks to a series of intense hot spells. In fact, last month was the warmest June on record in England, and the second warmest in the UK since records began back in 1994. Then, on July 1, the UK experienced its hottest day of the year, with St James' Park in London reaching a scorching 34.7C. While the balmy temperatures and blue skies were dramatically quashed this week thanks to heavy rain and thunderstorms that battered huge parts of the nation - it seems Britain is set to bask in the sunshine once again. Temperatures reaching up to 27C are expected to return to multiple towns and cities this weekend. While the odd heatwave (especially one that lands on a weekend) may be appreciated by pasty Brits wanting to top up their tan, experts are concerned about the frequency of these extreme conditions. Heatwaves have been linked with thousands of deaths in recent years - with a staggering 2,295 people dying due to five periods of heat across the summer of 2023. Last month, a rapid analysis found that the UK's intense heat spell will 'likely' kill almost 600 people in England and Wales. "Heatwaves are silent killers – people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death," said Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, at Imperial College London. As a result, Met Office scientists have recently published a shocking study revealing the chance of temperatures exceeding 40°C in the UK is accelerating at pace. The UNSEEN study uses a global climate model to create a 'large set of plausible climate outcomes in the current climate'. This allows experts to predict the current risk and how extremes have changed over the last few decades. "The chance of exceeding 40°C has been rapidly increasing, and it is now over 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s," Dr Gillian Kay, Senior Scientist at the Met Office, and lead author of the study states. "Because our climate continues to warm, we can expect the chance to keep rising." The study concluded that there is now a 50-50 chance of seeing another 40C day again in the next 12 years in the UK. "We also found that temperatures several degrees higher than we saw in July 2022 are possible in today's climate," Dr Kay added. Dr Nick Dunstone, Met Office Science Fellow and co-author of the study, warned that UK heatwaves are also becoming longer. "The well-known hot summer of 1976 had more than a fortnight above 28°C, which is a key heatwave threshold in southeast England," he explained. "Our study finds that in today's climate such conditions could persist for a month or more. These findings highlight the need to prepare and plan for the impacts of rising temperatures now, so we can better protect public health, infrastructure, and the environment from the growing threat of extreme heat."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
UK heatwave: Met Office reveals which parts of country will bask in hot weather
Parts of the UK are set to see "very hot" weather next month with dry and sunny conditions as a high pressure system moves in following a spell of mixed conditions Brits are set for more sweltering conditions ahead and here are the parts of the country where we could get "very hot" weather next month. The UK so far has seen several heatwaves this year and the hottest day was recorded at St James's Park in London on July 1 where the mercury reached 34.7C, while parts of Essex and Kent also topped 33C. In recent weeks the weather has remained largely warm but it has also been mixed with some torrential downpours. And now the Met Office said a return to more prolonged dry and sunny conditions is possible in early August with high pressure expected to build - especially across southern areas of the country. Forecasters say the second week of the month could bring a more settled pattern nationwide, with above-average temperatures and the potential for warm to hot spells, particularly in the southeast. According to a temperature anomaly map by WXCharts, much of the south east - including London - as well as parts of the south west, will be hotter than usual for the time of year on August 9. The Met Office's long-range forecast from August 9 until August 23 reads: "While westerly winds will bring changeable conditions at times, some settled spells are likely to develop during August. "These bringing more prolonged dry and sunny weather, especially across the south of the country but potentially spreading to all areas at times. Temperatures will likely be near or above average overall. There is a chance of some very warm or hot spells, especially in the south and east." Advanced weather modelling maps by WXCharts echoes the Met Office's predictions, showing a surge in temperatures beginning Saturday August 9 from 6pm, with the mercury rising dramatically across the country. In London, temperatures could peak at a sweltering 28C, while parts of Gloucestershire, including Cheltenham and the Cotswolds, are forecast to top out at a scorching 31C. Other hotspots include Cambridge, Peterborough, Northampton, Bath and Bristol, which could reach 29C. Southampton, Cardiff, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, and Wolverhampton are set to follow closely behind at 28C. Kent and Essex could meanwhile see maximum temperatures of 27C while Manchester could enjoy balmy highs of 25C. The forecast comes after a brief period of unsettled spells, with showers also set to fall across parts of the UK this weekend and early next week. BBC Weather's forecast for August 4 to 10 states: "During the first full week of August, opposing weather patterns are still possible. Consequently, some long-term weather trends still indicate ongoing cooler and changeable conditions, with temperatures close to the seasonal average. The latter would be consistent with the synoptic setup described for the end of the previous week. "However, there is growing confidence in a potential change to the prevailing weather pattern on a larger scale. For example, a stronger high-pressure ridge or an elongated high-pressure zone could move over parts of the United Kingdom and into western continental Europe. "In line with this, temperatures could climb above or even well above average, particularly in the south and south-east of the country. Additionally, a drier and calmer spell may return. Scotland and perhaps Northern Ireland could remain somewhat wetter and windier, with slightly cooler conditions."
