A leading meteorologist has warned that the UK could see more regular 'super heatwaves' in the coming years, citing the devastating impact of global warming on the planet.
The expert, who has spent the last 40 years warning about the effects of climate change, believes the world is close to a tipping point. "Yes, from time to time, in the past 50 or 100 years, we have had heatwaves," he said. "However, the top 10 global and UK temperatures have nearly all come in the last 20 years."
The current heatwave, which is expected to last until at least Thursday, is just a taste of what's to come, according to the meteorologist. "This is the new abnormal," he warned. "The dots are very clear, and they make a picture; one of records falling left, right and centre."
The expert views the devastating wildfires and floods that have broken out around the world in recent years as an inevitable result of global warming. "When you get these extremes, it points to one thing: ordinary weather, and ordinary heatwaves, are becoming super-heated," he said.
The UK is not alone in experiencing the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures are affecting countries across Europe, as well as the UK, with record-breaking heatwaves becoming increasingly common. "These records are not being broken for any arbitrary reason," the meteorologist said. "They are being broken because of climate change, record levels of CO2 and record levels of fossil fuel emissions."
The exceptional red warning for 'danger to life' level heat is now in place, covering a swathe of southern England and Wales. This is the second time the Met Office has issued the red warning for heat, the first time being during the summer 2022 scorcher.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has linked heatwaves to rises in heat-related deaths. "When you have these heat domes, or heat spikes which last a day or two, you have to ask what the result is," the meteorologist said. "The main one is that people die."
The meteorologist believes that the UK needs to adapt to a warmer climate, and that changes in areas ranging from diet to house building are necessary. He also believes that climate change denial needs to be debunked. "The danger is here and now but it's particularly for our children and grandchildren, because they'll be the ones picking up the ashes," he said.
The UK is committed to reaching net zero by 2050, which would mean total greenhouse gas emissions being equal to those removed from the atmosphere in order to limit global warming. However, the meteorologist warns that this may not be enough to prevent the devastating effects of climate change. "Fifty degrees for six or seven days in a row in the UK is a disaster, for the infrastructure, for roads, for the NHS, for people, you name it," he said.
