For millions of people trying to get home tonight after another blazing hot day, there is yet more stress: the prospect of train delays and cancellations. Temperatures hit 37C on Friday, marking a third consecutive day of record June heat across Britain. The heatwave, which has brought severe thunderstorms to northern parts of the country, is not expected to ease significantly until Sunday.
The disruption has rippled from hospital services to workplace logistics, with the NHS already under strain as emergency departments report a surge in heat-related admissions. Network Rail urged passengers to check before travelling, warning that rails could buckle in the extreme temperatures.
“Britain suffers third day of record 37C June heat; US energy chief Chris Wright downplays Europe's deadly heatwave.”
But as Britain baked, the U.S. Energy secretary, Chris Wright, downplayed the severity of Europe’s heatwave. “More people die in the winter,” he said, dismissing warnings from the European Union, which had described the record-high temperatures as life-threatening. Wright’s comments drew immediate criticism from climate scientists, who pointed out that heat-related deaths in Europe have risen steeply in recent years.
In Britain, the Met Office has extended its extreme heat warning for much of England and Wales, with nighttime temperatures offering little respite. Forecasters warned that the mercury could climb higher still on Saturday before thunderstorms bring relief on Sunday. For now, the nation endures a third day of sweltering heat, with no end in sight until the weekend.