LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) - A British record high temperature was recorded in Cambridge, eastern England, on Thursday, when a provisional reading of 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.66°F) was recorded at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, the Met Office said.

The current confirmed highest-ever temperature for Britain is 38.5 Celsius, recorded in Faversham, southeast England, in August 2003.

The new temperature will require quality control and analysis before being confirmed as the highest officially recorded in the UK, the Met office said on Friday. </s> Cambridge University Botanic Garden have claimed temperatures in the area soared to 38.7°C yesterday – which means it could be the hottest day ever recorded in the UK.

The Met Office are now investigating the provisional figure and will confirm whether the record was broken in the coming days.

Cambridge was already confirmed as the hottest place in the country yesterday, setting a new record for the warmest July day ever.

The National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) published a reading of 38.1°C in the city.

But today it was announced that a thermometer in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden weather station had reached 38.7°C.

The current record for the hottest UK day was set on August 10 2003 at Brogdale near Faversham in Kent, with a temperature of 38.5°C.

A Met Office spokesperson said: ‘A new provisional value of 38.7°C has been submitted from Cambridge Botanic Garden that will require further quality control and analysis as part of our routine practices.

‘The Met Office observation network uses a number of different types of data collection in collaboration with a range of partners. Not all provide real time data.

‘As the official source of meteorological statistics for the UK we take the quality of our recordings very seriously and will not confirm the new record until the quality control process has been completed, this is likely to be early next week.’

The Cambridge University Botanic Garden has been open to the public since 1846.

It currently houses a collection of 8,000 plants, trees and shrubs from all over the world. </s> A record UK temperature of 38.7C has been recorded in Cambridge University Botanic Garden - but is only provisional at the moment.

The previous record was 38.5C, recorded in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003.

Thursday was already the hottest July day on record. A temperature recorded at another site in Cambridge - 38.1C - beat the previous high for the month of 36.7C, set at Heathrow in July 2015.

The Met office said its " a number of different types of data collection in collaboration with a range of partners".

The potential new record will not be confirmed " until the quality control process has been completed" which is likely to be early next week.

Dr Mark McCarthy from the National Climate Centre (NCIC) at the Met Office said: "As the official source of meteorological statistics for the UK, we take the quality of our recordings very seriously.

"We are talking about a potential new record for the highest temperature recorded in the UK and we therefore need to thoroughly investigate the observation with our partners from Cambridge University Botanic Garden through statistical analysis and by visiting, to check the site and equipment and ensure there are no potential problems." </s> A temperature of 38.7C has been recorded in Cambridge, which if validated would be a new record for the UK, the Met Office has said.

The figure was recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens on Thursday, and will require “quality control and analysis” over the next few days, the forecasters said.

If validated it will become the highest temperature officially recorded in the UK, outstripping the 38.5C seen in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003.

Official figures, which recorded 38.1C in Cambridge, already put Thursday as the hottest July day on record, beating the previous high for the month of 36.7C set at Heathrow in July 2015.

It was also the second hottest UK day on record, beating the 37.1C recorded in August 1990, as a plume of hot air was funnelled from the south and leaving much of the country sweltering.

Dr Mark McCarthy from the National Climate Centre (NCIC) at the Met Office said: “As the official source of meteorological statistics for the UK, we take the quality of our recordings very seriously.

“We are talking about a potential new record for the highest temperature recorded in the UK and we therefore need to thoroughly investigate the observation with our partners from Cambridge University Botanic Garden through statistical analysis and by visiting, to check the site and equipment and ensure there are no potential problems.”

The Met Office says weather records are only used from weather observation sites with calibrated, standard instruments and carefully monitored exposure.

The organisation has individual station observations in a digital database going back to 1853, but there are also historical paper records stretching back even further. </s> THE UK has experienced the hottest July day on record and the second hottest since records began.

A scorching 38.1C was recorded in Cambridge beating the previous July record of 36.7C. The highest recorded temperature still remains the 38.5C reached in Faversham, Kent, on August 10, 2003.

Portsmouth topped the thermometer at a sweltering 30C, making it the hottest day in the city this year.

It was a record breaking day across Western Europe with Paris registering a record high temperature of 42.6C. The heatwave also saw Germany set a new national temperature record of 41.5C with the Netherlands also recording its highest ever temperature at 40.7C.

The warm weather brought out sun worshippers with the region’s beaches enjoying a bumper day.

However conditions across Hampshire look set to cool across the weekend with the Met Office forecasting rain for Saturday and a high of 23C with cloudy conditions and a high of 22C on Sunday. </s> Met office RECORD: UK heatwave the HOTTEST on record, says Met Office

Britons across the UK sweltered in roasting temperatures yesterday as hot air from Africa swept through Europe.

Now the Met Office has said Thursday, July 26 could be the hottest day on record in the UK after receiving a provisional figure of 38.7C at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

In a tweet, the Met Office said: “It will be quality controlled & if validated would be the highest temperature officially recorded in the UK.”

The current all-time UK temperature high is 38.5C in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003.

Weather forecasters said yesterday the mercury had officially hit 38.1C in Cambridge at 4pm. </s> Dr. Jeff Masters ·

Above: A zookeeper (unseen) spills water on Asian elephants on June 25, 2019 at the zoo of Berlin. Temperatures hit 33°C (91.4°F) in the German capital on Tuesday. Europeans are baking in what forecasters are warning will likely be record-breaking temperatures for June with the mercury set to hit 40°C (104°F) as summer kicks in on the back of a wave of hot air from North Africa. Image credit: Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images.

A ferociously hot airmass from the Sahara Desert has moved northward into Western Europe and will bring a dangerous heat wave unprecedented for June for the remainder of the week. All-time national heat records for June are likely to fall in multiple countries, and some nations may challenge all-time heat records set during the great heat wave of 2003, which killed over 70,000 people.

As of 11 am EDT Tuesday (5 pm local time in France), the temperature in Paris had soared to 32.4°C (90.5°F), making Tuesday the first of a string of five days likely to have high temperatures in excess of 90°F. The WU forecast for Paris calls for high temperatures of 93 – 98°F Wednesday through Saturday.

As of 11 am EDT Tuesday, Carpentras, France had recorded a high temperature of 38.4°C (101.1°F). This falls 3°C short of the highest fully reliable June temperature in France of 41.5°C (106.7°F) on June 21, 2003 at Lézignan-Corbières, according to Etienne Kapikian (Météo-France). Other June readings as high as 42.2°C are less reliable, Kapikian said. The June heat record for France is likely to fall on Wednesday or Thursday in southern portions of the nation.

Wildfire danger is predicted to steadily increase during week, reaching the “Extreme” level by the weekend over portions of France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic, according the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. The European Union is already well above recent norms for hectares burned & number of fires ignited in 2019.

Another aspect to watch as the #Europe heatwave unfolds this week is the wildfire risk. The European Union is already well above recent norms for hectares burned & number of fires ignited YTD. pic.twitter.com/EiUSFgidN6 — Steve Bowen (@SteveBowenWx) June 24, 2019

An unusually early heat wave

Much like the eastern U.S., Europe tends to get its hottest temperatures of the year later in the summer, in July and especially toward August. All-time national records, some of which may be challenged this week, include:

Austria: 40.5°C (104.9°F), August 8, 2013

40.5°C (104.9°F), August 8, 2013 Belgium: 38.8°C (101.8°F), July 2, 2015

38.8°C (101.8°F), July 2, 2015 Czech Republic: 40.4°C (104.7°F), August 20, 2012

40.4°C (104.7°F), August 20, 2012 Denmark: 36.4°C (97.5°F), August 10, 1975

36.4°C (97.5°F), August 10, 1975 France: 44.1°C (111.4°F), August 12, 2003

44.1°C (111.4°F), August 12, 2003 Germany: 40.3°C (104.5°F), July 5 and August 7, 2015

40.3°C (104.5°F), July 5 and August 7, 2015 Liechtenstein: 37.4°C (99.3°F), August 13, 2003

37.4°C (99.3°F), August 13, 2003 Luxembourg: 39.9°C (103.8°F), August 8, 2003

39.9°C (103.8°F), August 8, 2003 Netherlands: 38.6°C (101.5°F), August 23, 1944

38.6°C (101.5°F), August 23, 1944 Switzerland: 39.7°C (103.5°F), July 7, 2015

Some of these all-time June records are even more likely to tumble:

Austria: 38.6°C (101.48°F), June 20, 2013

38.6°C (101.48°F), June 20, 2013 Belgium: 38.7°C (101.7°F), June 27, 1947

38.7°C (101.7°F), June 27, 1947 Czech Republic: 38.2°C (100.8°F), June 22, 2000

38.2°C (100.8°F), June 22, 2000 Denmark: 35.5°C (95.9°F), June 29, 1947

35.5°C (95.9°F), June 29, 1947 France: 41.5°C (106.7°F), June 21, 2003

41.5°C (106.7°F), June 21, 2003 Germany: 38.5°C (101.3°F), June 27, 1947

38.5°C (101.3°F), June 27, 1947 Luxembourg: 36.1°C (97.0°F), June 22, 2017

36.1°C (97.0°F), June 22, 2017 Netherlands: 38.4°C (101.1°F), June 29, 1947

38.4°C (101.1°F), June 29, 1947 Switzerland: 37.3°C (99.1°F), June 21, 2003

The airmass (at 850 hPa) in France may be > 30°C this week.



To get perspective how anomalous it is, here's ERA5 T850 maximum for any month and for June. Clearly an all-time record (at least for 41 years), and totally unheard of for June.#heatwave pic.twitter.com/YAhXExbUUO — Mika Rantanen (@mikarantane) June 25, 2019

Early-season heat waves are especially dangerous

Heat waves are especially dangerous when they occur early in the summer, before people have had time to adapt to the seasonal heat. A 2015 report from the World Meteorological Organization and World Health Organization on heatwaves and health notes:

“Heatwave timing appears to have a notable effect on the level of mortality. Heatwaves occurring early in the summer have been shown to be associated with greater impacts on mortality in the same population than later heatwaves of comparable or higher temperatures (Hajat et al., 2002; Kinney et al., 2008; Anderson and Bell, 2011). The impact of high temperatures later in the summer is sometimes diminished after an early heatwave.

“In Europe, heatwaves occurring in June result in relatively high mortality compared to later in the summer, while most high-mortality events in southern Asia appear to occur early in the summer before the summer monsoon."

Figure 1. Heat forecast from Tuesday, June 25, 2019 from The Weather Company. The most widespread anomalous heat, with temperatures more than 12°C (22°F) above average (pink colors), are predicted on Wednesday and Thursday.

Europe’s heat wave history

The hottest summers since 1500 AD in Europe were 2018, 2010, 2003, 2016, 2002. Europe’s deadliest heat-wave catastrophe occurred in the first two weeks of August 2003. Great Britain saw its first 100°F readings in more than 300 years of recordkeeping, and all-time national heat records were also set in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Leichtenstein.

According to statistics from EM-DAT, the 2003 European heat wave was the deadliest in world history, with over 70,000 deaths. Hardest-hit were Italy (20,089 deaths), France (19,490 deaths), and Spain (15,090 deaths). Below is the list of top ten deadliest heat waves in world history as compiled by EM-DAT (which uses direct deaths for their statistics, and not excess mortality):



The 10 Deadliest Heat Waves in World History

1) Europe, 2003: 71,310

2) Russia, 2010: 55,736|

3) France/Belgium, 2015: 3,685

4) India/Pakistan, 2015: 3,477

5) Europe, 2006: 3,418

6) India, 1998: 2,541

7) U.S. and Canada, 1936: 1,693

8) India/Pakistan/Bangladesh, 2003: 1,472

9) U.S., 1980: 1,260

10) India, 2002: 1,030

A landmark 2004 study led by Peter Stott (University of Reading) found that human-produced climate change made heat waves on par with the European disaster of 2003 about four times more likely to occur.

Data show that the normally eastward atmospheric summer circulation of the NH mid-latitudes has slowed down, including the jet stream. This favors more hot-and-dry conditions over the continent and is likely linked to Arctic warming. Coumou et al. 2015: https://t.co/wsQbn8l5VP pic.twitter.com/VqaIp3rNVS — Stefan Rahmstorf (@rahmstorf) June 24, 2019

Bob Henson contributed to this post, and thanks go to Maximiliano Herrera for providing European national weather records. </s> In Western Europe remains abnormally hot weather. Third day in a row temperature records are recorded in France, second in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, the first in Luxembourg.

In France the day of July 25 was updated highs in many cities. In Paris, the temperature rose to 42.6°C, the previous record of July 28, 1947, was 40.4°C. the New maximum value by more than 2 degrees higher than the previous one. In Lille the difference between a new high (41,4°C) and previous (37.6°C, July 27, 2018) is about 4 degrees, said Stormnews.

In 20 departments of the country remain alert “red” level, in the 60 “orange.” In the North of France on red alert introduced for the first time. Earlier, during the previous peak heat at the end of June, a red alert level was introduced in the four southern departments of the country, reports RFI.

Due to the heat wave France is suffering from a drought. According to the government portal Propluvia, drought touched the 77 departments of the country, which has faced water shortages. 29 of them were in a crisis situation – there are measures of water saving for businesses and private individuals.

National record to 46°C recorded in France last month, will not be beaten.

In Germany, where yesterday in Gelsenkirchen, the thermometer rose to the level of 40.5°C, the air is heated up to 42.6°C in Lingen – a city in the northwestern part of the country.

In Belgium on Wednesday, the record was recorded in the village, the Kleine Brogel, he stood at 39.9°C. on Thursday in the village Batam for the North-West of the country the temperature rose to 40.7°C.

In the Netherlands, on 24 July in Eindhoven, the thermometer rose to the level of 39.3°C, July 25, in the municipality of Gilze-EN-Rijen warmed up to 40.7°C.

In Luxembourg on 25 July, the temperature rose to 39°C. This value was recorded at the international airport Luxembourg-Findel. The previous record was held at the same place August 12, 2003, it was 37.9°C, according to Stormnews with reference to the Tageblatt.

In the UK the temperature did not reach the national record, which was recorded on 10 August 2003 in Faversham and is 38.5°C. But also it was very hot in the southern half of England today’s high in Cambridge made up to 38.1°C. </s> Clouds in the sky above the ground during the second day of the test match between England and Ireland at Lord’s cricket ground in London, Thursday, July 25, 2019. Weather forecasters predict the UK could encounter the hottest July day on record later Thursday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on Europe’s heat wave (all times local):

Britain’s weather service says a provisional temperature of 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.7degrees Fahrenheit) was recorded Thursday, which if confirmed would be the highest ever recorded in the U.K.

The Met Office says the temperature was recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Garden in eastern England.

It says “quality control and analysis over the next few days” will determine whether the reading becomes official.

The existing record for the U.K. is 38.5 Celsius (101.3 Fahrenheit), was set in August 2003.

Temperature records have fallen across Europe this week as a suffocating heat wave swept up from the Sahara.

Britain was back to rain and lower temperatures on Friday.

People hoping to catch some sleep and maybe a cooling sea breeze during Europe’s heat wave got a rude awakening in a Dutch seaside suburb.

Police in The Hague said Friday that they handed out 140-euro ($155) fines overnight to 13 people sleeping on the beach and cafe terraces in Scheveningen.

Police say some of the sleepers were napping in the sand and getting in the way of local authority workers trying to clean up the beach before another sweltering day Friday.

The U.N. weather agency is voicing “concern” that the hot air which produced a record-breaking heat wave across much of western Europe this week is headed toward Greenland and that it could lead to increased melting of ice.

Heat records in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany tumbled in recent days as hot air surged from North Africa and Spain.

World Meteorological Organization spokeswoman Clare Nullis said in Geneva that forecasts suggest the air is heading towards Greenland.

This, she said, “will result in high temperatures and consequently enhanced melting of the Greenland ice sheet.”

Nullis said ice has been melting at high levels over the last few weeks in Greenland.

Travelers are facing a second day of disruption in Britain after record breaking July temperatures gave way to thunderstorms.

Network Rail, which oversees the majority of Britain’s railway network, is advising commuters to “only travel if their journey is absolutely necessary,” after Thursday’s disturbances left trains in haphazard locations and a fire damaged networks in the north.

The Met office says the mercury reached 38.1 C (100.6 F) in Cambridge on Thursday, only the second time temperatures over 100 F have ever been recorded in the UK.

The heat eased Friday, but Heathrow, Europe’s biggest airport, was forced to cancel or delay flights amid severe weather conditions. The airport admits they don’t know how many flights have been affected.

British Airways also announced that “severe thunderstorms are causing significant delays and cancellations to our operation in and out of London.”

Belgium suffered a first death as a direct result of the record-breaking heat wave when a woman was found dead near her caravan close to the beach.

The 66-year-old woman was found by a neighbor late Thursday afternoon after she had apparently been basking in the blazing sun. The incident happened in Middelkerke on the Belgian coast as temperatures rose in the region to over 40 degrees Celsius.

Middelkerke police commissioner Frank Delva told The Associated Press that the death is “very clearly linked to the heat.”

Emergency services rushed to the scene but could not resuscitate the woman.

On Thursday, Belgium endured, like many parts of Western Europe, its hottest day on record when the temperature rose to 41.8 C in Begijnendijk, 30 kilometers (20 miles) east of Brussels.
The United Kingdom reports a temperature reading of 38.1 °C (100.6 °F) in Cambridge, the second highest UK temperature yet recorded. It is subsequently confirmed that a reading of 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) is verified, also in Cambridge, beating the previous record of 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) set in Faversham, Kent on 10 August 2003 to become the new national record.