Latest news with #GrahameMadge
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Is this week's UK heatwave linked to climate change?
As the UK prepares for a heatwave this week, there is a 50/50 chance of a day where temperatures reach 40C within the next 12 years, the Met Office has predicted. It said the prospect of exceeding that figure is now more than 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s, as a result of climate change. The UK had its first recorded temperature above that threshold on 19 July 2022, when it was 40.3C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire — the hottest day in British history. And while temperatures will not get that high this week, the Met Office has said a heatwave is likely in many parts of England, with a maximum of 33C forecast in the east on Sunday. Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge told Yahoo News that warm air driven from southern Europe later this week will make it very warm in the UK. 'This week the UK will experience rising temperatures," he said. "Later in the week, a weather pattern develops which will encourage a flow of air from further south in Europe to bring much warmer conditions to the UK, with values expected to reach 32C on Saturday.' The Met Office said much of the UK will reach the threshold for a heatwave either on Friday or Saturday. To qualify as a heatwave, there must be three continuous days of temperatures at a certain level, which varies by area in the UK. Madge said: 'A heatwave is a period of three days or more where the maximum temperature reaches or exceeds a specific threshold. 'This threshold is 25C for northern and western parts of the UK, rising to 28C for Greater London and parts of the Home Counties.' The Met Office predicted that the UK is likely to experience a hotter than usual summer in its most recent three-month outlook, after this year's spring was the sunniest and among the driest and warmest on record. Four of the five warmest summers on record for England have occurred since 2003, while all of the top 10 warmest years according to mean temperature have occurred since the year 2000, with five in the most recent decade up to 2024. Records extending back to 1890 show that the mean temperature (the average of the maximum and minimum temperature across every weather station through the year) has risen from just over 7.5C in 1890 to more than 9.5C today. Climate change, caused by greenhouse gas emissions, has made heatwaves 30 times more likely in the UK, the Met Office has said. Over time, this will make UK winters warmer and wetter, while summers will become hotter and drier, although wetter summers will be seen sometimes. By the year 2050, heatwaves similar to the one seen in 2018 will happen every other year. Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle said earlier this month: "The UK's climate continues to change. "The data clearly shows that recent decades have been warmer, sunnier, and often drier than the 20th century average, although natural variation will continue to play a role in the UK's weather.' In its study on 40C temperatures, published in Weather Journal on Wednesday, the Met Office warned that even higher temperatures of 45C or more "may be possible' in today's climate, while heatwaves could go on for a month or more. The study said the chance of temperatures hitting 40C is more than 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s, and has almost trebled since the year 2000. Temperatures several degrees higher than the July 2022 record – up to a maximum of 46.6C – are also 'plausible'. Dr Gillian Kay, senior scientist at the Met Office and lead author of the study, said: 'Because our climate continues to warm, we can expect the chance to keep rising. We estimate a 50/50 chance of seeing a 40C day again in the next 12 years. 'We also found that temperatures several degrees higher than we saw in July 2022 are possible in today's climate.' The Met Office predicts that by the year 2070, summers will be between 1C and 6C warmer and up to 60% drier, and winters will also be up to 4.5C warmer and up to 30% wetter.
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Hay fever warning issued as UK enjoys warm weather
Hay fever sufferers are being warned of high pollen levels during a heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 30 degrees in the south of England and London. London and the south of England will experience temperatures around 30 degrees on Thursday, with 27-28 degrees for most of the week, while Manchester and Newcastle are forecast to hit 27 degrees on Friday. High pollen counts are expected across the UK, with "very high" levels in the south east and Midlands early in the week, spreading to the south west, Wales, and the north of England later. The Met Office reports that temperatures between 18 and 28 degrees, combined with dry conditions, low humidity, and a gentle breeze, can lead to high grass pollen counts, but pollen levels may decrease above 28 degrees. Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge anticipates temperatures could reach 32 degrees by Saturday in the south of England, with settled conditions due to high pressure from the Azores.
Daily Mirror
17-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Exact date UK will be hotter than Barcelona as 32C heatwave bakes Brits
Temperatures in London could end up exceeding those in typically sweltering parts of Europe, including Lisbon in Portugal, Barcelona in Spain, and Nice in France The mercury is set to surge above 30C for the first time in 2025 thanks to a massive early summer heatwave - creating sweltering conditions across Europe. Weather forecasters have predicted the UK could become hotter than typically baking Barcelona this weekend, with a sunny surge boosting the heat by nearly 10C in a matter of days. Forecasters are expecting temperatures to soar to 32C in the south of the UK by Saturday – and most places will reach high above the heatwave threshold by the weekend. Surging highs hitting between 25C and 28C could mean the first official heatwave of the year is looming on the horizon. READ MORE: UK beach that's 'nicer than Spain' is one of the most complained about in the world According to the Met Office, an official heatwave is recorded when temperatures reach an assigned temperature threshold for at least three consecutive days. In London – where the threshold is 28C – temperatures could peak at 29C on Thursday and 31C on Friday, before hitting 32C on Saturday. Should the forecast hold true, the extreme highs would mean the UK is hotter than Barcelona, where highs will be slightly cooler at 31C. The highs would also exceed highs in Portuguese capital Lisbon, which is predicted to reach 29C on Saturday, and Nice, France, where it will be 30C. The hot weather will then spread further north, with Manchester and Newcastle enjoying temperatures into the late 20s by the weekend. Grahame Madge, a spokesperson for the Met Office, said the extreme highs will be a result of "home-grown conditions" at first, before European warm air pushes temperatures upwards by the weekend. He said: 'Temperatures rising through the week will be home-grown conditions, where we get quite sunny weather, elevating temperatures. But as we get nearer to the weekend, that will receive a boost as we start to import warmer air from the south of Europe. "There will be a low pressure area to the west by the weekend and a high pressure one to the east. Those weather systems will funnel air between them and feed warmer air across the UK.' Forecasters have warned some rain is still possible in parts by the end of the week, however, with localised, heavy showers forecast depending on how humid it gets. Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade has issued a warning over wildfires ahead of the prolonged spell of hot weather and following one of the driest springs on record. Charlie Pugsley, deputy commissioner for operational policy, prevention and protection, said: 'Extended periods of hot and dry weather can greatly increase the risk of a grass fire, and particularly when that grass is tinder dry the spread of fire can be rapid. "We have seen examples of this in London as well as more recently worldwide, such as in California and South Korea. Last month, I wrote to the chief executives of each London local authority, outlining some key measures they can take, such as to create fire breaks, and to welcome the work that councils are already undertaking."
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Heatwave set to hit parts of UK this weekend as temperatures climb
Britons are set to bask in a heatwave this weekend, with some places hotter than parts of southern Europe. Forecasters are expecting temperatures to soar to 32C in the south of the UK by Saturday – and most places will reach temperatures above the heatwave threshold by the weekend. 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. In London – where the threshold is 28C – temperatures could peak at 29C on Thursday and 31C on Friday, before hitting 32C on Saturday. The hot weather will then spread further north, with Manchester and Newcastle enjoying temperatures into the late 20s by the weekend. Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said: 'Temperatures rising through the week will be home-grown conditions, where we get quite sunny weather, elevating temperatures. 'But as we get nearer to the weekend, that will receive a boost as we start to import warmer air from the south of Europe. 'There will be a low pressure area to the west by the weekend and a high pressure one to the east. Those weather systems will funnel air between them and feed warmer air across the UK.' The heatwave means some parts of the country will surpass temperatures in holiday hotspots such as Lisbon in Portugal and Barcelona in Spain, which are predicted to reach 29C on Saturday, and Nice, France, where it will be 30C. Forecasters have warned some rain is still possible in parts by the end of the week, with localised, heavy showers forecast depending on how humid it gets. Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade has issued a warning over wildfires ahead of the prolonged spell of hot weather and following one of the driest springs on record. Charlie Pugsley, deputy commissioner for operational policy, prevention and protection, said: 'Extended periods of hot and dry weather can greatly increase the risk of a grass fire, and particularly when that grass is tinder dry the spread of fire can be rapid. We have seen examples of this in London as well as more recently worldwide, such as in California and South Korea. 'Last month, I wrote to the chief executives of each London local authority, outlining some key measures they can take, such as to create fire breaks, and to welcome the work that councils are already undertaking.' A drought was declared by the Environment Agency across Yorkshire last week while the north-west of England entered drought status last month.
Wales Online
16-06-2025
- Climate
- Wales Online
'Official heatwave' set to hit UK this week
'Official heatwave' set to hit UK this week - areas affected An area has to hit a certain temperature for three consecutive days for a heatwave to be recorded Thunderstorms are set to hit the UK over the next three days, but forecasters say the country could also see its hottest day of the year (Image: Jacob King/PA Wire ) Britons are set to bask in a heatwave this weekend, with some places hotter than parts of southern Europe. Forecasters are expecting temperatures to soar to 32C in the south of the UK by Saturday – and most places will reach temperatures above the heatwave threshold by the weekend. 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. In London – where the threshold is 28C – temperatures could peak at 29C on Thursday and 31C on Friday, before hitting 32C on Saturday. The hot weather will then spread further north, with Manchester and Newcastle enjoying temperatures into the late 20s by the weekend. Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said: 'Temperatures rising through the week will be home-grown conditions, where we get quite sunny weather, elevating temperatures. "But as we get nearer to the weekend, that will receive a boost as we start to import warmer air from the south of Europe. Article continues below 'There will be a low pressure area to the west by the weekend and a high pressure one to the east. Those weather systems will funnel air between them and feed warmer air across the UK.' The heatwave means some parts of the country will surpass temperatures in holiday hotspots such as Lisbon in Portugal and Barcelona in Spain, which are predicted to reach 29C on Saturday, and Nice, France, where it will be 30C. Forecasters have warned some rain is still possible in parts by the end of the week, with localised, heavy showers forecast depending on how humid it gets. Heatwaves could hit parts of the UK (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA ) Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade has issued a warning over wildfires ahead of the prolonged spell of hot weather and following one of the driest springs on record. Charlie Pugsley, deputy commissioner for operational policy, prevention and protection, said: 'Extended periods of hot and dry weather can greatly increase the risk of a grass fire, and particularly when that grass is tinder dry the spread of fire can be rapid. Article continues below "We have seen examples of this in London as well as more recently worldwide, such as in California and South Korea. 'Last month, I wrote to the chief executives of each London local authority, outlining some key measures they can take, such as to create fire breaks, and to welcome the work that councils are already undertaking.' A drought was declared by the Environment Agency across Yorkshire last week while the north-west of England entered drought status last month.
