The Daily Telegraph - 26.08.2019

UK bakes in hottest August bank holiday on record

By Sarah Knapton Science editor

BRITAIN’S weather records continued
to be broken yesterday as the country
baked in the hottest August Bank Holi-
day weekend ever, with temperatures
reaching 33.3C (88.9F) at Heathrow.
The scorching weather beat previ-

ous highs of 31.5C (88.7F) set at the

same location in 2001.

The record-breaking temperature

follows last month’s heatwave in which

Cambridge University recorded 38.7C

(101.7F) on July 25, making it the hottest

British day since records began in 1841.

The Met Office could not confirm

whether it was the hottest bank holiday

ever in Britain, because the dates of ob-

servance have changed since being

brought in under the UK’s Bank Holi-

days Act in 1871.

The late summer sunshine is a result

of warm air moving northwards from

the continent and comes at the end of a

wet and chilly month.

On Saturday, Gogerddan, near Aber-

ystwyth, also recorded 27.4C (81.3F) – a

new record for this weekend’s temper-

ature in Wales.

Millions attending events such as the

Leeds and Reading Festivals and the

Notting Hill Carnival in London were

warned to drink plenty of water, stay

covered and apply sunscreen.

Steven Keates, a meteorologist, said

temperatures in the Notting Hill area

edged close to 32C (89.6F) yesterday.

He said: “It’s looking like this is one

of the hottest carnivals ever. I would

urge people to stay safe in the sun,

drink plenty of water and enjoy them-

selves.”

A million visitors were due in Corn-

wall over the weekend, as 400,

tourists descend on Brighton. There

will be 225,000 people in Blackpool,

200,000 in Bournemouth and 175,

in Great Yarmouth.

Motorists were urged to take extra

care and expect delays as the hot

weather made breakdowns more likely.

A 63-year-old man died after swim-

ming at Hell’s Mouth near Gwithian,

Cornwall, a section of water known for

powerful currents and treacherous

rocks and a 12-month-old child was in a

critical condition after falling into a

swimming pool. The child, of Bognor

Regis, West Sussex, was taken to hospi-

tal by air ambulance.

Temperatures are expected to rise

even further today, breaking the cur-

rent August Bank Holiday Monday

record of 28.2C (82.76F). However,

heavy showers and thunder could ar-

rive in the west by this evening. The

Met Office said the weather would turn

unsettled again by next weekend.

The fair with flair Children, skateboarders

and dancers perform at the sun-soaked

Notting Hill Carnival in west London.

The event is the largest street carnival in

Europe, with more than a million people

expected to attend the two-day celebration

yesterday and today, backed by a major

VICKIE FLORES/EPA-EFE/REX; GETTY IMAGES; PA police security operation.

Temperatures hit 33.3C

in Heathrow as hundreds

of thousands of people

headed for the coast

News

The wet weather

and record heat

this summer

have created the

perfect breeding

ground for fleas,

experts say.

Fleas thrive in

warm, humid

environments,

which allow

them to develop

to adulthood in

14 days. Calls to

Rentokill

jumped by 415

per cent from

June to July.

Symptoms of a

flea invasion are

itchy bites or

skin irritation.

Flea heaven Heat offers

ideal breeding conditions

The Daily Telegraph Monday 26 August 2019 *** 3

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