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Police issue UK hot weather warning after three die in 24 hours Police issue UK hot weather warning after three die in 24 hours
(25 days later)
Police are telling people not to swim in open water after the deaths of three people in 24 hours as temperatures soar across the UK.Police are telling people not to swim in open water after the deaths of three people in 24 hours as temperatures soar across the UK.
A 12-year-old girl drowned in a river in Bury and two men died after being pulled from the sea off a beach in Torquay on Thursday.A 12-year-old girl drowned in a river in Bury and two men died after being pulled from the sea off a beach in Torquay on Thursday.
The girl was named as Shukri Yahya Abdi by her family, who described her as “sweet and innocent”, on Friday afternoon. It is believed that Abdi, who came to the UK as a refugee from Somalia about 12 months ago, got into difficulty while in the water with two other girls.The girl was named as Shukri Yahya Abdi by her family, who described her as “sweet and innocent”, on Friday afternoon. It is believed that Abdi, who came to the UK as a refugee from Somalia about 12 months ago, got into difficulty while in the water with two other girls.
What is causing the European heatwave?What is causing the European heatwave?
Greater Manchester police said she had been found by underwater search teams four hours after officers had been called to the River Irwell at about 8pm.Greater Manchester police said she had been found by underwater search teams four hours after officers had been called to the River Irwell at about 8pm.
DI Andrew Naismith of the force’s Bury district said: “This is an incredibly tragic incident in which a young girl has lost her life, and my thoughts are with her family at this devastating time. With the warmer weather, it’s tempting to go into the water to cool off, but I’d like to remind everyone of the dangers of playing near or swimming in rivers, lakes and reservoirs and would strongly urge against this.”DI Andrew Naismith of the force’s Bury district said: “This is an incredibly tragic incident in which a young girl has lost her life, and my thoughts are with her family at this devastating time. With the warmer weather, it’s tempting to go into the water to cool off, but I’d like to remind everyone of the dangers of playing near or swimming in rivers, lakes and reservoirs and would strongly urge against this.”
Devon and Cornwall police said the bodies of two men, aged 25 and 26, were recovered from the sea close to Babbacombe Beach in Torquay at about 2pm on Thursday by a lifeboat crew.Devon and Cornwall police said the bodies of two men, aged 25 and 26, were recovered from the sea close to Babbacombe Beach in Torquay at about 2pm on Thursday by a lifeboat crew.
The men, who were local to the area and whose next of kin have been informed, were taken to hospital but later pronounced dead. Rescue teams were called to two other incidents around Torquay on Thursday.The men, who were local to the area and whose next of kin have been informed, were taken to hospital but later pronounced dead. Rescue teams were called to two other incidents around Torquay on Thursday.
Temperature records for this time of year have already been broken, or look likely to be broken imminently, across much of Europe including Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland and Austria. Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, forest destruction and other human activities are trapping heat and putting more energy into the climate system. 
Warm air is rising across Europe from north Africa, bringing high temperatures across the continent. The UK has remained cooler, partly as a result of being further from north Africa and partly because of the cooling effects of the North Sea, the Met Office said. Hotter air means heatwaves are much more likely. For example, scientists now say the unprecedented heat and wildfires across the northern hemisphere in 2018 “could not have occurred without human-induced climate change”. In Australia, the scorching summer of 2016-17 in New South Wales was made at least 50 times more likely by global heating, linking it directly to climate change.
It is not possible to pin the heatwave definitively on climate change because weather varies naturally. Moreover, the effects of climate change are not simple. For example, heavy rain and cloud across northern Europe is likely to become more common as the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes the jet stream weather system to become fixed in position. Hotter air can also carry more water vapour, meaning more intense rain and more flooding. 
However, this year’s weather is certainly in line with the predictions scientists have made of rising temperatures, more heatwaves and prolonged droughts interspersed with periods of heavy flooding. Another important factor in the northern hemisphere is the impact of changes in the Arctic. The polar region is heating more rapidly, reducing the temperature difference with lower latitudes. There is strong evidence that this is weakening the planetary waves (including the jet stream) that normally meander over Europe, Asia and North America.
The body’s ability to regulate its own temperature is crucial; babies and older people are less well able to regulate their temperature and should stay in well-ventilated conditions. In the 2003 European heatwave there were about 70,000 excess deaths attributed to the long hot spell. People with underlying illnesses can also have problems, and even those who are healthy can experience difficulty sleeping and discomfort, so people are advised to stay hydrated and wear loose clothing at night. When these waves stall, weather gets fixed over regions and becomes extreme. This has been linked to past floods in Pakistan, heatwaves in Russia and drought in California. 
There is also an impact on farmers. While warmth at the right time is crucial for crop growth, excessively high temperatures can inhibit that growth, particularly if they are prolonged. Livestock can also suffer in the heat and need extra care. Most of the planet’s trapped heat goes into the oceans and rising sea temperatures mean more energy for hurricanes and typhoons. Record-breaking cyclones hit Mozambique in March and April. The deluge delivered in the US by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was made three times more likely by climate change. Rising sea level also means storms cause more coastal damage.
Fiona Harvey Environment correspondent Global heating does not influence all extreme weather – natural variability still exists. Carbon Brief analysed more than 230 studies and found 95% of heatwaves were made more likely or worse by climate change. For droughts, 65% were definitely affected by our hotter world, while the figure for floods was 57%. It is now undeniable that global heating is causing more extreme weather.
According to the Met Office, Friday was the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures of 30C (86F) at around 3.50pm at Achnagart in Scotland, beating 2019’s previous hottest day where it reached 28.8C in Weybourne in Norfolk on 2 June. The weather will get hotter still this weekend, mirroring the heatwave affecting much of Europe. The temperature hit 45.9C in Gallargues-le-Montueux in southern France on Friday – the highest mainland France has registered since records began.According to the Met Office, Friday was the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures of 30C (86F) at around 3.50pm at Achnagart in Scotland, beating 2019’s previous hottest day where it reached 28.8C in Weybourne in Norfolk on 2 June. The weather will get hotter still this weekend, mirroring the heatwave affecting much of Europe. The temperature hit 45.9C in Gallargues-le-Montueux in southern France on Friday – the highest mainland France has registered since records began.
Hot air drawn in from northern Africa has brought sweltering temperatures across Europe. Meteorologists issued an unprecedented red alert for four areas in France, while in Spain firefighters are battling the worst wildfires to hit the Catalonia region in 20 years.Hot air drawn in from northern Africa has brought sweltering temperatures across Europe. Meteorologists issued an unprecedented red alert for four areas in France, while in Spain firefighters are battling the worst wildfires to hit the Catalonia region in 20 years.
The Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said Friday night would be “tricky for sleeping”, with temperatures likely to remain warm and humid. South-east England and the east Midlands would experience the peak of heat on Saturday, he said, with temperatures capable of nearing the highest set for June – 35.6C in 1976.The Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said Friday night would be “tricky for sleeping”, with temperatures likely to remain warm and humid. South-east England and the east Midlands would experience the peak of heat on Saturday, he said, with temperatures capable of nearing the highest set for June – 35.6C in 1976.
“We will see the hottest day of the year so far,” said Dewhurst. However, western parts of the country were likely to be cooler because there would be more cloud, he said.“We will see the hottest day of the year so far,” said Dewhurst. However, western parts of the country were likely to be cooler because there would be more cloud, he said.
By Sunday, temperatures in England are expected to be closer to average, with most place reaching the high teens or low 20s – although it could be higher for East Anglia and the south-east.By Sunday, temperatures in England are expected to be closer to average, with most place reaching the high teens or low 20s – although it could be higher for East Anglia and the south-east.
Dewhurst said the spike in UK temperatures was not a heatwave, which is typically considered to be a hot spell lasting three days or more, like that affecting mainland Europe.Dewhurst said the spike in UK temperatures was not a heatwave, which is typically considered to be a hot spell lasting three days or more, like that affecting mainland Europe.
He said the outlook for next week was a mixture of sunny spells, scattered showers and lower temperatures.He said the outlook for next week was a mixture of sunny spells, scattered showers and lower temperatures.
UK weatherUK weather
Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester
WalesWales
ScotlandScotland
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
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