UK weather LIVE: Roads melt in 32C heat as storms set to erupt in DAYS – new flood alerts
PARTS of England are set to flood this week, partly in response to the extreme heat and subsequent heavy rainfall
BBC Weather: Europe forecast heavy rain and flooding
According to the Environment Agency, SEPA and Natural Resources Wales, thunderstorms as well as locally intense rainfall, will hit London from around 1pm and into the evening on Wednesday 21 July. Other areas likely to be hit by a deluge of rain are Silk Stream and the Deans, Edgware, Dollis, Mutton and Wealdstone Brooks.
Rivers in Hendon, Wembley, Harrow, Wealdstone, Edgware or Stanmore areas are expected to overflow. Friday looks to the worst day of flooding as low-lying land, roads and riverside gardens will be drowned. Surface water flooding may also affect these areas.
The Met Office have said local flooding from rivers in parts of the south and south-east of England are possible this afternoon, and more widely across England and Wales during Thursday but not until Friday for Wales. Surface water flooding may also affect these areas.
If you are nearby it is a good idea to monitor local water levels and weather conditions.
It is recommended that you avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water.
Rivers are currently being checked for blockages which may worsen flooding issues.
Yeading Brooks in London Boroughs of Harrow and Hillingdon, River Pinn and Woodridings Stream, Lower Lee tributaries, Rivers Beam and Rom, Loughbourough Urban Watercourses, River Leen and Day Brook, River Trent Tributaries and the River Maun in Nottinghamshire are all being monitored by Incident Response teams.
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A teenager was found in a canal and a man died in the sea as the UK sweltered through its hottest day of the year yesterday.
The 15-year-old was swimming in Stocking Lane in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, at 5.28pm on Tuesday.
Police have issued warnings about swimming in open water to combat the heat.
Have a flood plan and call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
Follow Express.co.uk for live updates...
19:51 How hot is too hot?
To cook a raw egg outside the pavement needs to reach 158F or 70C.
Pavements can reach up to 145*F.
Using a frying pan is recommended.
If you've more of a sweet tooth, try baking raw cookies in your car.
Close the doors and the car can reach temperatures of 165F or 75C for up to two hours and you will have a car baked treat.
19:32 London Serpentine swimming club new members sign up in record time
The London swimming club gained 200 new members who joined in a very quick 9 minutes 45 seconds on July 18.
18:56 Floods in China
Floods in central China, caused by record-breaking rainfall, leave 12 dead and more than 100,000 people evacuated.
Massive floods in central China, caused by record-breaking rainfall, leave 12 dead and more than 100,000 people evacuatedhttps://t.co/EsSuwxT525 pic.twitter.com/lK8W1tGJ3W
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) July 21, 2021
18:10 Roads melting in Gloucestershire
Local authorities have reported having to carry out urgent repairs to roads which have melted in the heat.
Gloucestershire Council Council said that "emergency work" has been carried out on the A38 in Tewkesbury.
Somerset County Council said on Twitter that a number of roads had been affected by the heat and that a sunny day with temperatures of around 20C can be enough to heat the roads to 50C.
Is that enough to fry an egg on?
18:06 Ireland hits record high temperature
Today the temperature hit 30.4C at Heathrow.
While Northern Ireland hit a new all-time record temperature with 31.3C at Castlederg in County Tyrone, according to the Met Office.
This beats the record 31.2C which was set on Saturday in Ballywatticock, in County Down.
18:03 Heatwave to end in thunderstorms this weekend
The UK heatwave is expected to end with thunderstorms across England and Wales this weekend, forecasters have warned.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning across England and Wales on Saturday and Sunday, saying heavy rain and thundery showers could cause flooding and transport disruption.
Meteorologist Tom Morgan said that while some areas within the warning zone could see a month's worth of rain, the storms were unlikely to be as bad as those on Tuesday.
He said:"In contrast to yesterday when it was really torrential downpours and heavy hail, the weekend weather is just going to be more generally wet."
16:53 Hampstead Ponds re-open today following flooding
The swimming ponds in London's Hampstead Heath reopened today.
The Mixed Bathing Pond began operating as normal again on 21 July 2021.
The Kenwood Ladies’ Bathing Pond and the Highgate Men’s Bathing Pond both re-opened yesterday.
On July 13 all swimming ponds were closed following storm water and foul water sewers getting in to the Bathing Ponds.
Local Joyce Glasser called it: "the wrong kind of rain."
16:23 Woman, 70, left in West London flat filled with sewage for nine days after flash flood
On July 12, disabled Irene Stevens had to seek refuge at her daughter's home after her home in Westville Road was flooded by nearby drains leaving her wading through ankle high sewage.
Having lived there for 45 years, Irene has had to spend the last eight days with her daugher said: "Within 20 minutes you couldn't get into the property.
"It was raw sewage. There were wipes, tissues, all the muck. I can not open the windows. I have no ventilation. They are stuck in with paint so I can not lift them.
"I could not open the back door because of the smell. I have had to use my inhaler to the maximum."
"If you imagine the issues you can pick up from the sewage. The health implications from breathing in sewage for a short time is bad enough but for nine days I have come back into the home."
16:22 How to sleep during a heatwave
Don't sleep naked
Sophie Bostock, PhD, a sleep expert at The Sleep Scientist said: “I've seen a lot of advice about sleeping naked,"
"But this isn't super helpful as what you can actually find is if sweat collects on the body, and isn't whipped away by a moisture-wicking surface, like you get from clothing, then it doesn't help you cool."
Instead, wear cotton or any kind of clothing with moisture-wicking fabric.
Take a shower before bed
Taking a warm shower and then sleeping in a normal temperature room can increase slow wave sleep.
Do some light exercise
A little exercise before bed may actually help you sleep as it heats up your body, which can help low wave sleep.
Get a fan
If you have a ceiling fan, reverse the direction to make it spin counterclockwise to push hot air out of the way.
Use ice packs
Place ice packs wrapped in a towel on your pulse points, such as your wrist, ankles, behind the knees, and neck, and it will cool down your whole body.
Try different bedding
Reduce your covers as much as possible and try cotton sheets.
Don't use memory foam
Memory foam can be insulating, so it will trap heat in your body.
Sleep in the coolest room
Sleep in a lower-altitude room if you can as heat rises.
Alternatively, keep your curtains closed in the room during the day and keep the room as dark as possible.
Hydrate
Drink plenty of water before bed to counter the sweating you do in your sleep.
Try to avoid alcohol for four hours before bed.
Kick out your partner
More body heat is a no-no in a heatwave.
Do some breathing exercises
Try the 4-7-8 breathing technique, which is breathing in for four counts, holding your breath for seven, and exhaling for eight counts.
15:44 China floods
A third dam has collapsed in China's Zhengzhou city due to major flooding.
The central Chinese province of Henan has flooded subways.
It is the third Chinese dam to collapse in 48 hours.
China has raised the nationwide flood emergency responce level.
Dam collapses in China's #Zhengzhou city due to major #flooding
— EHA News (@eha_news) July 20, 2021
▪️It has became the third dam to collapse in 48 hours
▪️China has raised the nationwide flood emergency responce level. pic.twitter.com/9bCqePgjEo
15:33 Flooding globally
Germany
On July 16 Cologne district and the Rhein-Erft-Kreis district of Germany, experienced catastrophic flooding.
By July 18 at least 188 people have died across Germany, Belgium and other countries as flooding and landslides wreaked havoc.
The worst affected was southern Belgium, Luxembourg and Western Germany.
Turkey
On 14 July flooding hit the Rize Province in the Black Sea Region of Turkey.
The Turkish government announced the region a disaster area on July 17.
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
On July 12 the Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan border was flooded due to heavy rain.
15 people are confirmed dead and many missing on July 15.
Iran
Torrential rain and flash floods happened in 10 provinces in Iran between July 15 and 18.
There were six deaths and two people missing as of July 18.
India
Northern India has been plagued with landslides caused by monsoons.
Officials reported at least six deaths and two more people missing.
USA
On July 16 Arizona was hit by monsoon rains leading to floodwaters.
The Grand Canyon was flooded and one person died while rafting on the Colorado River.
15:04 How to stay safe in a flood
Never try to walk or drive through floodwater
Just six inches of fast flowing water can knock an adult over and a mere two feet of water will float a car.
Never try to swim through fast flowing water or floodwater
As you may get swept away or be struck or caught on an object in the water. If you get stuck call 999.
Get to the highest level if trapped in a building
Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help. Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising flood water.
Keep an eye on weather reports for flooding in your area
Do not travel in heavy rainstorms unless absolutely necessary.
Prepare a flood kit in case your home floods or you are trapped in a vehicle for any period
Make sure to include a change of clothing, wellies, waterproofs and blankets as well as a torch, charged mobile, radio, medication and a first aid kit with a list of useful numbers, including flood alert lines.
14:40 Weather Forecast from Wednesday July 21 to Thursday July 22
Tonight
A fine evening as it will be dry with late sunshine and any daytime showers will clear quickly. Overnight will be dry with long clear spells however patches of mist and fog will form. Areas of cloud will build across Scotland and north-east England by dawn. Drizzle for the Northern Isles.
Tomorrow
On Thursday early patches of mist, fog and low cloud will lift in the morning to reveal early spells of sunshine. Expect a fine day with long periods of sunshine and just some patchy fair-weather cloud building. Risk of an isolated shower.
Friday
Friday will continue dry with lengthy spells of sunshine however some patchy cloud cover will build into eastern areas and there is a chance of a few showers.
Saturday
There will be more cloud on Saturday across England and Wales with scattered showers. Dry with sunny spells for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
14:15 Hailstorm wrecks Jamie Oliver Christmas special shoot
The celebrity chef wrote over a video of torrential hail.
13:38 Heatwave expected to continue this week
The heatwave which has baked UK over the last few days is set to continue on Wednesday, with scattered thunderstorms forecast to return.
The Met Office says the mercury is expected to push 30C (86F) across southern and western England and 25C (77F) in Belfast, with temperatures forecast to be slightly cooler in the east.