Arabic version: المملكة المتحدة تحطم رقم حرارة يونيو لليوم الثالث على التوالي

The UK record for the hottest day in June was broken for a third day in a row, with temperatures reaching 37.3C in Suffolk, according to BBC News. This surpasses the previous record by more than a full degree, underscoring the severity of the ongoing heatwave that has caused significant disruptions across the country.

The extreme heat has led to the closure of hundreds of schools and has prompted six NHS trusts to declare critical incidents due to an influx of heat-related illnesses. Reports indicate that emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service, have experienced about a 50% increase in 999 calls during the heatwave.

In addition to the health impacts, travel disruptions have been widespread, affecting major rail services such as Avanti West Coast and Great Western Railway. Popular tourist attractions, including London’s Tower Bridge and Marwell Zoo, have also closed their doors to visitors as a precautionary measure against the extreme temperatures.

The heatwave, driven by a “heat dome” over Western Europe, is expected to ease over the weekend. A yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued for Scotland and parts of northern England, while temperatures are predicted to drop significantly across the UK in the coming days. Despite the cooling forecast, the Met Office has warned that the high humidity levels could still pose health risks.

As the country grapples with the consequences of the heat, authorities have reiterated warnings about the dangers of swimming in open water, following the tragic drowning of a 13-year-old boy in Leicestershire. The combination of record-breaking temperatures and high humidity has raised alarms about the potential for serious health effects, especially among vulnerable populations.