As Europe Battles Heatwaves, Hottest-Ever Temperature Recorded in the UK

The mercury rose to 39.1 degrees Celsius, while the country's previous all-time record high of 38.7 Celsius.

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The mercury rose to 40 degrees Celsius in the United Kingdom close to 1 pm on Tuesday, 19 July, at London’s Heathrow Airport, the UK Met Office provisionally stated, according to BBC.

After Met Office issued a red extreme heat warning covering a big chunk of England, Network Rail warned people to not travel, after reports of overheated or buckled tracks and failing overhead cables. Power cuts were also reported across Yorkshire, the BBC reported.

The first ever Red Extreme Heat warning is still active in several areas of England coupled with a larger Amber Extreme heat warning, which shows increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, covering several parts of England, Wales and southern Scotland, the UK Met Office said.

Some parts are due to see thunderstorms on Wednesday, with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning across southern parts of England.

Hundreds of firefighters tackled fires across London after surges were reported across London, with a major blaze in east London’s Wennington desecrated homes after spreading.

BBC after speaking to residents reported that eight homes and a local church had been destroyed in the fire, while one rescuer described the scene as “absolute hell.”

Scotland also recorded their highest ever temperature, with provisional figures from the met office reporting temperatures of 34.8 degrees Celsius in Charterhall, near the Scottish border. This beats their previous record of 32.9 degrees Celsius which was recorded in 2003.

Meanwhile, BBC quoting forecasters reported that the heatwave is expected to bring temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius towards southern Belgium as well as western and south-western area of Germany. Several vehicles were engulfed in a blaze in the dunes at the De Haan Belgian resort.

On Tuesday, The Netherlands recorded its hottest day with temperatures clocking in at 38.9 degrees Celsius in Maastricht, BBC reported, quoting warnings of higher temperatures from forecasters.

Portugal and Spain also continued to record high temperatures and add to the toll of deaths due to the devastating heatwave, with over 1,700 people dying from heat-related causes over the past week.

(With inputs from BBC)