The heat in Britain broke the previous temperature record, at Heathrow airport they measured over 40 degrees Celsius – Webnoviny.sk

Britain broke its previous temperature record on Tuesday and weather forecasts suggest the mercury could climb even higher. In the afternoon, the British Meteorological Office measured a preliminary temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius at Heathrow Airport, breaking the record that was only about an hour old. Heat disrupts life in the country Until Tuesday, the highest recorded temperature in Britain, 38.7 degrees Celsius, was from 2019. Meanwhile, forecasts warn that temperatures could rise even higher. Tuesday’s data are still only preliminary, while the temperature measured in real time has yet to be confirmed by a data check, and then its actual value will be published. The heat in a country that is not prepared for such extremes disrupts transportation, health care and education. Many homes, small businesses and public buildings do not have air conditioning, which only confirms how unusual such high temperatures are in a country known for rain and mild temperatures. Luton had to close temporarily High temperatures even damaged the runway at London Luton Airport, as a result of which the airport had to be closed for several hours. The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, Petteri Taalas, expressed hope that the heatwave currently plaguing Europe will serve as a wake-up call for governments to do more to combat climate change. “I hope that in democratic countries such events will also have an impact on voter behavior,” he told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday.