Heatwaves caused by climate crisis may become regular event, says Met Office chief
The Guardian says Exceptionally high temperatures expected across the UK on Monday and Tuesday are “entirely consistent” with climate change, the chief meteorologist at the Met Office has said, warning that such heat could become a regular feature by the end of the century.
The UK’s first red heat warning has come into effect, with temperatures expected to reach 41C (105.8F) on Monday or Tuesday, breaking the country’s heat records. The heatwave has already caused school closures, transport service delays, increased pressure on health services and a call from unions for flexible working options.
“I’ve been a meteorologist for about 30 years and I’ve never seen the charts I’ve seen today,” said the Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Paul Davies. Human-induced climate change was the “additional boost” behind temperatures reaching 40C in the UK, he said.