The UK has recorded its eighth day above 34C this year, breaking a previous record, as millions of people face hosepipe bans amid the heat.
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Key facts
- Temperatures exceeded 34C for the eighth day this year on Thursday.
- This broke the previous record of seven such days in a single calendar year.
- Highs reached 35C during the heat.
- Millions of people are under hosepipe bans.
The UK is experiencing a spell of intense heat, with temperatures reaching highs of 35C and millions of people placed under hosepipe bans, according to the BBC.
On Thursday, temperatures exceeded 34C for the eighth day this year. According to the BBC, this broke the previous record of seven days above that threshold in a single calendar year.
The record marks a notable milestone for the country, which has now surpassed the previous benchmark for the number of very hot days recorded within one calendar year.
Alongside the high temperatures, millions of people are subject to hosepipe bans, restrictions that typically limit the use of hoses for activities such as watering gardens and washing cars.
The combination of record-breaking heat and water-use restrictions reflects the pressure that sustained warm and dry conditions can place on both people and water supplies.
Why it matters
Record-breaking heat and widespread hosepipe bans affect daily life for millions across the UK, from how people use water to how they cope with extreme temperatures. Repeated records for very hot days can also signal longer-term shifts in the country's climate.
Frequently asked questions
How hot did it get in the UK?
Temperatures reached highs of 35C, and exceeded 34C for the eighth day this year on Thursday, according to the BBC.
What record was broken?
According to the BBC, the UK broke the previous record of seven days above 34C in a single calendar year, reaching eight such days.
Are there water restrictions in place?
Yes. According to the BBC, millions of people are under hosepipe bans during the heat.
Timeline
- UK bakes in 35C highs as millions under hosepipe bans
BBC Science: On Thursday, temperatures exceeded 34C for the eighth day this year, breaking the previous record of seven days in a calendar year.