The UK is bracing for its hottest day ever on Monday, with an expected peak of 41 degrees Celsius (106F).
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LONDON – The UK is bracing for its hottest day on record, with a peak expected at 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) in the south of England.
The Met Office, the UK weather service, has released red extreme temperature warning on Mondays and Tuesdays for parts of central, north, east and south-east England.
It marked the country’s first warning of extreme heat.
High temperatures are also forecast across the UK, with amber warnings issued for the rest of England, Wales and parts of Scotland.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued warning level four for the UK, reminding everyone to take precautions, including staying indoors and drinking plenty of water.
The Met Office’s chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said on Friday that: “Specifically, perhaps the temperature will hit a record early next week.
Record high
The current record high temperature in the UK is 38.7°C, reached in Cambridge, eastern England, on 25 July 2019.
London will bear the brunt of the hot weather this week, with the capital forecast to be one of the hottest Mondays in the world.
A hit for businesses
Britain is not used to such extreme temperatures, with the Met Office warning that temperatures are set to “widely affect people and infrastructure.” The majority of UK homes do not have air conditioning.
Some schools plan to close early or not open at all, and the country’s main rail network has urged people to only travel. “if absolutely necessary,” with some cancellations announced and speed limits applied.
Britain’s Luton Airport, north of London, suspended flights on Monday after high temperatures caused surface faults on the runway.
The hot weather is expected to take a toll on businesses too, with analysts predicting a drop in retail sales as shoppers choose to stay indoors.
Walid Koudmani, head of market analysis: “Hot conditions in the UK – where temperatures are set to be at record highs – will impact retail and tourist arrivals. at financial brokerage XTB, said in a research note.
This is an already challenging time for businesses, and especially those that depend on customers, as many businesses face the dual pressures of hyperinflation and a cost crunch. activities escalate.
However, Koudmani said the overall impact of the heatwave on the UK economy would likely be minimal given the existing precedent of allowing people to work from home as part of their weekly routine. their.
He added: “After a return to economic growth in May, where the UK economy grew by 0.5%, this would be welcome.
