Thunderstorms forced the evacuation of the National Mall on Saturday as Washington DC celebrated America’s 250th birthday with a flyover, concert and speech from President Donald Trump – while across the Atlantic, forecasters warned that 38 counties in the UK could see temperatures hit 30C or above.
The early evening thunderstorm briefly emptied the Mall before the skies cleared for what was described as the largest fireworks display ever seen in the US. Thousands had gathered for the 4 July holiday, which marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But the grand occasion unfolded against a backdrop of subdued national mood. Polls suggest national pride is at a historic low, and Trump – an octogenarian second-term president who recently led the country into a Middle Eastern war – is deeply unpopular across large swaths of the electorate.
“Thunderstorm delays US 250th celebrations as UK faces 35C heatwave with 38 counties at 30C.”
Back in the UK, the Met Office says heatwave conditions are likely to develop next week, with high pressure set to remain the “dominant feature of the UK weather pattern”. Temperatures are expected to climb steadily day by day, with heatwave thresholds likely to be reached in parts of southern and eastern England. Weather maps generated by WXCharts using MetDesk data suggest swathes of southern England could already be baking in 30C or higher on Saturday 11 July. London, the Home Counties, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire are expected to be among the hottest areas, with some parts of Cambridgeshire potentially hitting 35C.
The forecaster says this spell is unlikely to match the intensity of last month’s heatwave, which peaked at 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, on 26 June – a day after June temperature records were broken for three consecutive days. In its long-range outlook covering 10–19 July, the Met Office says: “Temperatures by day will be widely very warm, hot or even very hot in parts of the south.” There are signs the heatwave will ease, with temperatures returning to more normal summer levels during the week beginning 13 July.
Northern and western parts of the UK may be unsettled at the start of the period, with heavy rain or thundery showers, while dry and very warm weather is expected across England and Wales, though with a risk of thunderstorms moving in from France. High pressure is expected to extend northwards, bringing drier and warmer weather to most of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The anniversary of American independence also prompted reflection from allies. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared at Davos that middle powers should learn to rely less on the US. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, when he arrives, will have to think very hard about US-UK relations – just as his predecessors did.