Showers not sunshine as Black Country heatwave ends
A record-breaking heatwave which brought sweltering temperatures to the Black Country and Staffordshire is now over, according to forecasters.
Temperatures dropped to 19C (66F) yesterday and are due to be 20C (68F) today – a marked difference to the scorching early 30s that bathed the region earlier this week.
A band of thunderstorms was also due to sweep across the UK last night, the Met Office said.
A cold front is due to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms to parts of southern Scotland, northern England, north Wales and the Midlands.
For today, the Met Office has predicted: "Patchy rain for some at first, though the skies gradually brightening up through the morning to allow a mostly dry, albeit rather cloudy afternoon.
"Breezy. Maximum temperature 20C." Meanwhile it will continue to be windy over the weekend, with 'some showers likely'.
The forecast predicts: "Breezy on Saturday with some showers likely. Drier and brighter on Sunday. A bright start on Monday, but the skies turning increasingly cloudy with rain possible later."
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkhill said yesterday saw a 'marked drop' in temperatures, with fresher conditions.
Wednesday was the UK's hottest June day since 1976 – near the sweltering 34C (93F).
Heathrow recorded temperatures of 34.5C (94.1F) by 4pm, the highest for June since the 35.6C (96F) recorded in Southampton on June 28, 1976.
The 40-year high – which is the hottest summer solstice on record – was recorded as parts of Britain sweltered for a fifth consecutive day with temperatures above 30C (86F).
The sweltering temperatures placed 'unprecedented demand' on ambulance services in London, with people fainting, collapsing and becoming unconscious in the heat.
On Monday, London Ambulance Service call handlers answered 6,613 emergency calls, compared with 4,695 the week before - a 41% increase - and the service warned this was expected to continue while the heatwave lasted.
Youngsters were urged not to go swimming in lakes, rivers and reservoirs during the hot weather, following the deaths of two teenagers in separate incidents.
Spencer Hurst, aged 15, died after going into a lake with friends in the Pelsall area on Tuesday evening, while a 16-year-old boy died at a reservoir in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on Monday,.
