UK Records Hottest Day of Year as Temperatures Reach 28.4C at Heathrow
The UK registered its warmest day of 2024 on Friday, with temperatures reaching 28.4C at Heathrow in west London, Cranwell in Lincolnshire, and Cambridge. This figure surpasses the previous high of 26.6C recorded at Kew Gardens on 8 April. The Met Office anticipates temperatures will continue to climb, potentially exceeding 30C over the bank holiday weekend, with some areas expected to meet heatwave conditions by Wednesday.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat health alerts for the Midlands, eastern, and south-east England. These alerts, upgraded from yellow on Friday morning, indicate a risk of significant impact on health and social care services, particularly for children and individuals over 65.
Travel Disruption and Congestion Expected
Transport networks are experiencing heightened activity as families embark on half-term getaways. Passengers travelling to Europe via the Port of Dover faced delays of several hours on Friday, attributed to the initial implementation of a new EU Entry Exit System (EES) by French authorities. This system, which digitally records biometric information, has led to longer border checks despite the absence of operational fingerprint and photo machines.
Roads leading to Dover are predicted to see considerable congestion between Friday and Sunday, with an estimated 18,000 cars expected to pass through. Nationwide, the RAC projects over 19 million people will be on the roads, a million more than during last year's late May bank holiday. Motorways are anticipated to be most congested on Friday and Saturday.
Train services are also expecting increased passenger numbers, especially on routes to coastal destinations. Wembley Stadium has advised football fans attending the English Football League play-off finals to take precautions against the heat, including dressing appropriately and staying hydrated. Around 170,000 fans are expected across three days of fixtures in London.
In addition to the heat, Birmingham Airport reported security delays due to an unexpectedly high level of staff absence, causing some travellers to narrowly miss flights.
