Hottest night ever in UK was recorded last month at sweltering 26.8C
THE hottest ever night in the UK was recorded last month, the Met Office has revealed.
The temperature at 4:32am on July 19 was a sweltering 26.8C (80F) at Shirburn in Oxfordshire.
And it never dropped below that level for a full 24 hours making it the new highest daily minimum and setting a record for overnight temperatures.
The Met Office had already verified the UK's new hottest temperature of 40.3C (104.5F) set in Coningsby, Lincs, the same day.
It was the first time the mercury had smashed through the 40C threshold in the country.
The new daily minimum record, set at Shirburn Model Farm, beat the previous record of 25.8C (78.4F) set at Kenley Airfield, Surrey, on the same day.
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It took a while to verify because data from some weather stations is reported more slowly.
Met Office data manager, John Penman, said: “This new record’s another reminder of how severe the heat was in July.
“What’s remarkable is just how much this surpassed the August 1990 record of 23.9C (75F) by nearly three degrees.
“Much like the daytime highs, the overnight temperatures have smashed the previous records during a period of unprecedented heat in the UK.”
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Meanwhile, temperatures were set to rise to 28C (82F) today for a final scorcher before a colder Bank Holiday weekend.
More rain is expected towards the end of the week.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Helen Caughey said: “There will certainly be more sunshine around for many over the weekend.”
Deaths on rise
THE heatwave contributed to 83 extra daily deaths in England and Wales, stats show.
England experienced a seven per cent rise in fatalities during last month’s record-baker.
And Wales saw a leap of 12 per cent. The Office for National Statistics said the rise could be for a number of reasons and more research was needed.
Dementia (11 per cent) was the leading cause of death in England in July. Covid (four per cent) was the sixth largest killer.