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UK set for warmest day of the year after firefighters tackle wildfires UK set for warmest day yet this year as firefighters warn of more wildfires
(about 4 hours later)
Temperature could hit 24C in central England on Friday amid ‘very high to extreme’ risk of wildfires across Britain Temperature could hit 24C in central England on Friday with ‘very high to extreme’ risk of wildfires across Britain
The UK could experience its warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures higher than European holiday hotspots, after firefighters tackled wildfires in parts of Britain. The UK could experience its warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures higher than European holiday hotspots.
Much of the country would be dry and sunny on Friday, and some of central England could hit 24C (75F) as weather “nearer to what we’d expect in July” continued, the Met Office said. The Met Office said much of the country would be dry and sunny on Friday, and some of central England could hit 24C (75F) as weather “nearer to what we’d expect in July” continued.
The highest temperature recorded so far this year was 21.3C in Northolt, west London, and Chertsey, Surrey, on 20 March.The highest temperature recorded so far this year was 21.3C in Northolt, west London, and Chertsey, Surrey, on 20 March.
The country is expected to be warmer than Marbella and Ibiza in Spain, Mykonos in Greece and Los Angeles in California, according to Met Office forecasts. The country is expected to be warmer than Ibiza, Mykonos and even Los Angeles on Friday, according to Met Office forecasts.
Southern England hit highs of 20.7C on Thursday, while Achnagart in the Highlands reached 20.1C. Southern England hit highs of 20.7C on Thursday, while Achnagart in the Highlands reached 20.1C. Eastern areas of the UK were cooler, owing to easterly winds over the North Sea.
Eastern areas of the UK were cooler, owing to easterly winds over the North Sea. The Met Office said: “Temperatures [on Thursday] have been nearer to what we’d expect in July in some inland and western areas, but conversely a chilly easterly breeze has kept many eastern coastal regions much colder.”
The Met Office said: “Temperatures (on Thursday) have been nearer to what we’d expect in July in some inland and western areas, but conversely a chilly easterly breeze has kept many eastern coastal regions much colder.”
The average temperature for this time of year is about 12C in England and 10C in Scotland.The average temperature for this time of year is about 12C in England and 10C in Scotland.
Dan Stroud, a forecaster, said: “We’ve got an area of cloud and showery outbreaks of rain moving northwards across south-west England and parts of Wales overnight tonight and into tomorrow. Dan Stroud, a forecaster, said on Thursday: “We’ve got an area of cloud and showery outbreaks of rain moving northwards across south-west England and parts of Wales overnight tonight and into tomorrow.
“So that will bring some welcome rain for small parts of the country, but much of the country is looking at another fine and dry spring day tomorrow with a lot of warm sunshine on offer, although still holding on to those cool temperatures near the east coast.“So that will bring some welcome rain for small parts of the country, but much of the country is looking at another fine and dry spring day tomorrow with a lot of warm sunshine on offer, although still holding on to those cool temperatures near the east coast.
“But one thing we are expecting tomorrow is for temperatures to creep up into 23C or maybe the odd isolated 24C, so potentially the warmest day of the year so far.”“But one thing we are expecting tomorrow is for temperatures to creep up into 23C or maybe the odd isolated 24C, so potentially the warmest day of the year so far.”
Firefighters have been tackling large blazes in Scotland and Dorset. Stroud said wildfires had erupted after a dry period in March. Earlier in the week, firefighters tackled large blazes in Scotland and Dorset. Stroud said wildfires had erupted after a dry period in March.
In Scotland, crews have been battling a large grass fire at Gartur Moss in Port of Menteith, Stirling. In Scotland, crews battled a large grass fire at Gartur Moss in Port of Menteith, Stirling. The alarm was raised at about noon on Wednesday and four fire appliances remained at the scene on Thursday morning.
The alarm was raised at about noon on Wednesday and four fire appliances remained at the scene on Thursday morning.
The Scottish fire and rescue service said the blaze stretched nearly half a mile. It added that a “very high to extreme” risk of wildfire remained across the country until Monday, and urged the public not to light fires outdoors.The Scottish fire and rescue service said the blaze stretched nearly half a mile. It added that a “very high to extreme” risk of wildfire remained across the country until Monday, and urged the public not to light fires outdoors.
Crews extinguished a wildfire near Bonhill in West Dunbartonshire and another in the Kilpatrick Hills near Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, earlier this week.
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Crews extinguished a wildfire near Bonhill in West Dunbartonshire and another in the Kilpatrick Hills near Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, earlier this week.
Moors Valley country park on the Dorset-Hampshire border will remain closed after being hit by multiple wildfires since Monday.Moors Valley country park on the Dorset-Hampshire border will remain closed after being hit by multiple wildfires since Monday.
Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service (DWFRS) said crews were called to the park again on Wednesday after more hotspots were discovered during a re-inspection near Ringwood. Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service (DWFRS) said crews were called to the park again on Wednesday after more hotspots were discovered during a re-inspection near Ringwood. Several hectares of woodland have been destroyed. No injuries were reported.
Several hectares of woodland have been destroyed. No injuries were reported. Firefighters responded to two more large wildfires in Dorset overnight on Wednesday.
Firefighters responded to two more large wildfires in Dorset overnight. The fires in Upton and Canford were under control by Thursday evening and morning respectively.
The first broke out at Upton Heath, near Poole, just before 11.45pm on Wednesday, spreading across more than 15 hectares (37 acres). A spokesperson for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Both fires were down to human intervention, but we’ve not yet been able to establish whether that was malicious or accidental. The investigation will remain open for now.”
Crews were then called to a blaze at nearby Canford Heath at about 5.30am on Thursday, which covered 2.4 hectares. The first broke out at Upton Heath, near Poole, just before 11.45pm on Wednesday, spreading across more than 15 hectares (37 acres). Crews were then called to a blaze at nearby Canford Heath at about 5.30am on Thursday, which covered 2.4 hectares.
DWFRS said both fires had been brought under control by 7am, with crews continuing to damp down hotspots.