LONDON, July 18 (ONLINE) Yesterday (Monday) was the hottest day in Britain’s history on record with temperatures hitting 40C for the first time, forcing train companies to cancel services, schools to close early and ministers to urge the public to stay at home, Reuters News Agency reported.
Much of Europe is baking in a heat wave that has pushed temperatures into the mid-40s Celsius (over 110 Fahrenheit) in some regions, with wildfires raging across tinder-dry countryside in Portugal, Spain and France.
Britain’s government triggered a “national emergency” alert as temperatures were forecast to surpass the 38.7C (102F) recorded in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden in 2019 on Monday and Tuesday.
“We’ve got a difficult 48 hours coming,” Kit Malthouse, a minister in charge of government coordination, told BBC radio.
London’s metro network imposed temporary speed restrictions for Monday and Tuesday, meaning it would run a reduced service with journeys taking longer than normal. It urged commuters to only travel if essential.
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