1990 United Kingdom heatwave


During the 1990 heat wave in the United Kingdom a weather station recorded a temperature of for Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the highest temperature ever known in Britain, one full Fahrenheit degree above the previous record, set in 1911.

Impact

Moorland fires were common during the height of the heat wave, occurring in North Yorkshire and the Peak District. Some of the Peak District was closed to the public to try to prevent further fires occurring from careless visitors. Roads were clogged as people flocked to the coast and to holiday resorts throughout the country. Transport was further hampered as train services around the country slowed due to concerns over anomalies in the railway network from the intense heat. Reservoir levels fell, although the Water Services Association assured the public that "most people are still getting their full supply of water without any restrictions at all.". # :p

Statistics

StationCounty / UAAugust 1990 maximum temperatureDatePrevious recordDate of previous recordNext recordDate of next record
BidstonMerseyside222 July 1873
BoltonGreater Manchester327 August 1930
Boscombe DownWiltshire32 July 197619 July 2006
BradfordWest Yorkshire312 August 1953
BuxtonDerbyshire331 July 1943
Cambridge Botanic GardensCambridgeshire319 August 193225 July 2019
Cardiff Cardiff313 July 1983
CheltenhamGloucestershire33 July 1976
Durham ObservatoryCounty Durham331 July 1943
EastbourneEast Sussex43 July 1976
HampsteadGreater London319 August 193210 August 2003
HarrogateNorth Yorkshire231 July 1943
Hawarden BridgeFlintshire23 July 1976
HullHull37 July 1941
LeucharsFife22 July 1933
MacclesfieldCheshire East39 August 1911
NewportTelford and Wrekin33 July 1976
Nottingham (Watnall)Nottinghamshire38 August 1975
PrestatynDenbighshire23 July 1976
ReadingReading312 July 192310 August 2003
RothamstedHertfordshire319 August 193210 August 2003
SandownIsle of Wight416 August 1947
SheffieldSouth Yorkshire39 August 1911
SkegnessLincolnshire329 July 1983
South FarnboroughHampshire33 July 1976
Southport Merseyside23 July 1976
Sutton BoningtonNottinghamshire312 August 1953
TynemouthTyne and Wear316 July 1969