As the sun blazed down on a London park, Gary Youssef walked his dog while talking about his methods for coping with the recent heat. After experiencing several days of unusually warm weather, Youssef revealed that he keeps his windows shut and curtains drawn during the day, only to open them at night for cooler air. He has also begun considering installing air-conditioning in his home—a significant change for many Brits, as air-conditioning has not been a common household feature until recently.
“A lot more of my friends now have air-conditioning,” Mr. Youssef commented, reflecting on how attitudes towards cooling systems have evolved over the last five years.
In the wake of rising temperatures, Britain was bracing for its first heat wave of the year, with forecasts predicting highs of 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit). This is a stark contrast to the average June temperature of around 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit). Homes in the UK are typically designed for cooler weather, which means millions are unprepared for persistent heat waves.
As heat waves become more frequent and intense due to climate change, meteorologists and scientists are warning that such extreme weather will increasingly become the norm in Britain. Many Britons, like Mr. Youssef, are starting to take notice of the pattern and are making plans to adjust their living conditions to cope with the new reality.
“A lot more of my friends now have air-conditioning,” Mr. Youssef commented, reflecting on how attitudes towards cooling systems have evolved over the last five years.
In the wake of rising temperatures, Britain was bracing for its first heat wave of the year, with forecasts predicting highs of 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit). This is a stark contrast to the average June temperature of around 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit). Homes in the UK are typically designed for cooler weather, which means millions are unprepared for persistent heat waves.
As heat waves become more frequent and intense due to climate change, meteorologists and scientists are warning that such extreme weather will increasingly become the norm in Britain. Many Britons, like Mr. Youssef, are starting to take notice of the pattern and are making plans to adjust their living conditions to cope with the new reality.
