Climate change made 2022's UK heatwave 'at least 10 times more ...
The record-breaking UK heatwave of 18-19 July 2022 was made “at least 10 times more likely” by human-caused climate change, a new “rapid-attribution” study finds.
www.carbonbrief.orgI can summarize the situation based on what’s been reported about the UK heatwaves in 2022.
Direct answer
- The 2022 United Kingdom heatwaves were a series of record-setting high-temperature events across July and August, including the UK’s hottest day on record (40.3°C) on July 19, 2022, and multiple days of extreme heat with national red and amber warnings issued by the Met Office and public health authorities. The event was shown to be strongly linked to climate change, making such extreme heat waves far more likely than in the pre-industrial era.
Key details
- July 2022: The Met Office issued its first red (extreme heat) warning for England, covering central and southern parts, with amber warnings elsewhere. On July 19, 2022, a new UK heat record of 40.3°C was recorded at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, surpassing previous records and contributing to the warmest spell of weather in recent UK history. This sequence marked the first time the UK experienced temperatures above 40°C and the first red heat warning in the country.[2]
- Heat health warnings and emergency responses: The UK Health Security Agency issued its first-ever level 4 heat-health alert, signaling a national emergency, and the Met Office issued heat warnings days in advance, with warnings beginning to appear six days before the event, the earliest such alert in its history.[4]
- August 2022 heatwave: A second heatwave began around August 9 and persisted into mid-August, with peak temperatures reaching the mid-30s Celsius in parts of England and Wales and continued amber warnings during this period.[2]
Context and attribution
- Scientific assessments found that human-caused climate change made the July 2022 heat event at least 10 times more likely than in a climate without anthropogenic warming, underscoring that such extreme heat events are increasingly influenced by human activity.[4]
- The heatwaves were part of a broader pattern of record-breaking summer conditions in Europe in 2022, with the UK experiencing its hottest day on record and a particularly severe and prolonged heat period for the country.[9]
Illustrative highlights
- The period featured multiple days with temperatures exceeding typical summer norms, including tropical nights where nighttime temperatures remained high, contributing to heat stress and health concerns across the population.[4]
- Reservoirs and water infrastructure in parts of England were affected by heat, with some reservoirs showing reduced water levels during peak heat, illustrating wider environmental and practical impacts of the heatwave.[2]
Would you like a concise timeline of the key dates and temperature records from July and August 2022, or a comparison table of warnings (amber/red) vs. actual observed temperatures during the UK heatwaves? I can also pull a map or chart showing the regional temperature peaks if you want. Citations can be provided for each item.