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UK weather: lightning strikes as hottest day on record looms UK weather: lightning strikes as hottest day on record looms
(about 3 hours later)
Large swathes of Britain have experienced storms and lightning strikes as the country braces for what could be its hottest day ever later this week.Large swathes of Britain have experienced storms and lightning strikes as the country braces for what could be its hottest day ever later this week.
Thunderstorms moved into southern and western areas late on Tuesday evening, with the Met Office issuing a yellow severe weather warning for most of England, Wales and Scotland until 9am on Wednesday.Thunderstorms moved into southern and western areas late on Tuesday evening, with the Met Office issuing a yellow severe weather warning for most of England, Wales and Scotland until 9am on Wednesday.
Surrey police posted a video of what it called “a great lightning show” and some Twitter users posted to say they had been woken by the thunderstorms.Surrey police posted a video of what it called “a great lightning show” and some Twitter users posted to say they had been woken by the thunderstorms.
North Wales was the wettest area overnight, getting 15mm of rain in one hour. By Wednesday morning, much of the country was already experiencing temperatures far above normal for this time of year.North Wales was the wettest area overnight, getting 15mm of rain in one hour. By Wednesday morning, much of the country was already experiencing temperatures far above normal for this time of year.
“Quite a lot of places are back up to 23 or 24 degrees already (at 5am),” said Emma Smith, a Met Office meteorologist. “It’s normally 13 or 14 degrees at this time of year, so that’s 10 degrees above average.”“Quite a lot of places are back up to 23 or 24 degrees already (at 5am),” said Emma Smith, a Met Office meteorologist. “It’s normally 13 or 14 degrees at this time of year, so that’s 10 degrees above average.”
The extreme heat comes after temperatures across England exceeded 30C (86F) on Tuesday, with forecasters predicting even hotter temperatures on Wednesday.The extreme heat comes after temperatures across England exceeded 30C (86F) on Tuesday, with forecasters predicting even hotter temperatures on Wednesday.
“It will get to 35 degrees on Wednesday, with a small chance it will get to 36C,” said Smith.“It will get to 35 degrees on Wednesday, with a small chance it will get to 36C,” said Smith.
The highest overnight average temperature ever seen in the UK was 23.3C (73.94F) in July 1948. Smith said there was a possibility this would be beaten on Thursday night into Friday.The highest overnight average temperature ever seen in the UK was 23.3C (73.94F) in July 1948. Smith said there was a possibility this would be beaten on Thursday night into Friday.
Temperatures in London were expected to reach 38C (100.4F) on Thursday, which would pass the record for a day in July – 36.7C (98.1F) – recorded at Heathrow in 2015.Temperatures in London were expected to reach 38C (100.4F) on Thursday, which would pass the record for a day in July – 36.7C (98.1F) – recorded at Heathrow in 2015.
The Met Office said there was a 40% chance the UK temperature record of 38.5C (101.3F), which was recorded in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003, would be exceeded.The Met Office said there was a 40% chance the UK temperature record of 38.5C (101.3F), which was recorded in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003, would be exceeded.
Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, forest destruction and other human activities are trapping heat and putting more energy into the climate system. 
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.
Hotter air can also carry more water vapour, meaning more intense rain and more 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.
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. 
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.
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.
British bask in the July heat – in picturesBritish bask in the July heat – in pictures
Northern Ireland and western Scotland will be the coolest areas on Thursday, with temperatures in the low 20s.Northern Ireland and western Scotland will be the coolest areas on Thursday, with temperatures in the low 20s.
The train company Southeastern said it would be running a “significantly reduced service” on Thursday due to speed restrictions announced by Network Rail. Southeastern operates trains in south-east London and Kent and also serves parts of East Sussex.The train company Southeastern said it would be running a “significantly reduced service” on Thursday due to speed restrictions announced by Network Rail. Southeastern operates trains in south-east London and Kent and also serves parts of East Sussex.
Dr Sam Hampton, a post-doctoral research associate at the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, advised people to wear “lighter, loose-fitting clothing before cranking up the air conditioner”, adding: “If necessary, air-conditioners should only be run when all the windows are closed.”Dr Sam Hampton, a post-doctoral research associate at the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, advised people to wear “lighter, loose-fitting clothing before cranking up the air conditioner”, adding: “If necessary, air-conditioners should only be run when all the windows are closed.”
In London, police were searching for three people who have gone missing in the Thames. The Metropolitan police said a swimmer went missing at Shadwell Basin on Tuesday evening, a second at Waterloo Bridge and a third near Kingston High Street.In London, police were searching for three people who have gone missing in the Thames. The Metropolitan police said a swimmer went missing at Shadwell Basin on Tuesday evening, a second at Waterloo Bridge and a third near Kingston High Street.
UK weatherUK weather
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