Hard to sleep after record heat
Hampshire recorded the hottest June day on record yesterday
It has been a difficult night for many across the south coast after the record for the hottest June day was broken in Hampshire yesterday.
Gosport recorded 36 degrees - beating the 1976 record - which was set in Southampton.
Figures are currently provisional and would be verified at the end of the heatwave to check if it is a new national record.
Met Office science manager Amy Doherty said: “If confirmed, a new June daily temperature record would be significant, especially following on the heels of the recent records set in May.
“The new record provides further evidence that temperatures previously considered extreme are becoming increasingly common as a result of human-induced climate change.”
The record comes amid a sweltering heatwave, with the Met Office issuing a rare red warning for extreme heat for Wednesday and Thursday for an area from London and the south coast to Swansea, Somerset and Birmingham.
Red heat health alerts have also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the East of England, East Midlands, London, the South East, the South West and the West Midlands, and amber heat health alerts for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and The Humber.
With the extreme heat set to linger in some parts of the country into the weekend, the Met Office has issued an amber warning for extreme heat covering parts of east and south-east England on Saturday.
Children at some schools have been told they can wear PE kit rather than full school uniform, which can involve long trousers and blazers.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said parents should send children to school if they remain open, saying schools were taking steps to help pupils cope with the heat, and absences had a cost.
“I know hot weather can be a struggle. But my message to families is simple: if your child’s school is open, you should keep sending them into school,” she said.
Professor Stephen Belcher, Met Office chief scientist, said: “Human induced climate change has made events like this more likely and more intense.
“To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering.
“Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply.”