Drivers issued major warning after UK road ‘melts’ in 30C heat | UK | News
Motorists have been warned to avoid the UK A-road after parts of it melted in a record-breaking May heatwave. The record for the hottest day in May was broken on Tuesday in London, with temperatures exceeding 35°C; this was slightly above the 34.8°C reference point set the previous day.
The hot weather has led to major health warnings and travel disruptions, but a further warning has been issued to motorists on the A143 at Stanton, Bury St Edmunds. Suffolk Highways has urged residents to “avoid the area and use an alternative route until further notice” after high temperatures this morning caused “heat damage” to tarmac.
“Following the site inspection, we will be on site for the remainder of the day applying sand and granite dust to prevent further melting and keep road users safe,” a spokesman said.
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Heathrow also temporarily recorded a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, the weather service said, adding: “Until yesterday, the highest temperature in May was 32.8 degrees Celsius, but we have now surpassed this record by a full two degrees Celsius on consecutive days.”
The Met Office said 34C was exceeded in Bushy Park in west London, Santon Downham, Suffolk, Northolt, north-west London, Cippenham, Berkshire and Wellesbourne, Warwickshire.
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said yellow heat-health warnings for the South West, South East, London, the East and West Midlands and the East of England will remain in place until 5pm on Thursday, while yellow heat-health warnings will remain in place for the North West and North East.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow storm warning for the South West, West Midlands, East Midlands and parts of Eastern England between 3pm and 10pm on Tuesday.
Train services across Britain have been disrupted as temperatures rise and Network Rail has imposed a series of speed restrictions on the tracks to keep trains safe.
South Western Railways (SWR) said all lines on its network were disrupted “due to multiple signaling failures, track defects and heat-related speed restrictions”.
The train operator operates suburban services from Waterloo to south-west London, commuter services in Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and Dorset, as well as regional services in Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire.
