UK Heatwave Memes Take Over Social Media as Record Temperatures Finally Cool

In classic British style, many people turned to humour to get through the sweltering heatwave, with social media quickly filling up with memes poking fun at the record-breaking temperatures.

Cooler conditions are expected to offer some respite this week, according to the Met Office, though it may be wise not to put the fans away just yet. The longer-range outlook suggests temperatures could climb again and become “very warm” toward the end of next week.

The heat broke records on three consecutive days from Wednesday, with temperatures provisionally peaking at 37.3C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Friday. The same location remained hot on Saturday, recording a high of 32.3C.

During the peak of the heat, the Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme temperatures for only the second time, covering parts of central and southern England, as well as Wales, on Wednesday and Thursday.

Amber heat warnings followed, affecting eastern and central England on Friday and parts of eastern England on Saturday.

Conditions have eased today, with temperatures expected to remain in the 20C range for the rest of the week. Some parts of the UK may also see rain at times.

Looking further ahead, the Met Office’s long-range forecast says high pressure is likely to remain slow-moving over England and Wales. It could also extend northwards during the second week of June, bringing drier and warmer weather to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“Winds will be light to moderate for most, though stronger around northern hills and coasts near low pressure systems. Temperatures will rise through the period, perhaps becoming very warm or hot in places,” the national weather and climate service said on its website.

On TikTok, one Brit posted a video making fun of how the heat hits when going outside and another referenced Molly-Mae’s viral soundbite about ‘just making it through the night’.

Others uploaded clips rejoicing in the cooler weather today, welcoming cloudy skies and even rainy spells.

With Wimbledon beginning tomorrow, players and ticket-holders will be hoping for lower temperatures to remain.

Last week, the extreme heat forced the All England Club to suspend qualifying for the Grand Slam after the automated line-calling system suffered a heat-related meltdown.

Players were taken off the court after it was decided chair umpires could not make line calls in the absence of the electronic system and, unlike in the main Championships, there are no reserve line judges available during qualifying.

Meanwhile, the heatwave drowning death toll rose to six yesterday after a woman’s body was found in a pool near Birmingham. 

West Midlands Police said on Saturday evening that the body of a woman had been recovered from Swan Pool in Sandwell Valley Country Park after she went missing in the water just after 4:30pm.

Another death was that of Brody Leach, whose body was recovered from the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on Saturday morning.

West Mercia Police said the 22-year-old was last seen alive swimming in the river at about 4.10am on Friday when he apparently got into trouble.

Meanwhile, officers searching for a missing 15-year-old boy last seen in the water at Testwood Lakes near Southampton have found a body, Hampshire Police said on Saturday.

Essex Police has also confirmed the death of a 69-year-old man in Clacton.

Officers said they were called to a medical emergency in Marine Parade East at just after 11am on Friday after reports of a man in difficulty in the sea.

The four deaths bring the total number of water-related fatalities during the recent heatwave to six after a 50-year-old man was pronounced dead on Wednesday afternoon at Aberavon beach on the south coast of Wales.

Earlier, police said they had recovered the body of a teenage boy from a lake in Syston, Leicestershire, after he went into the water on Thursday.

The boy was later named locally as Hayden Jones-Powell, 13.

As the country sweltered under a ‘heat dome’, Sir Sadiq Khan called for maximum and minimum temperature limits to be introduced for schools and workplaces.

The Mayor of London told LBC: ‘Sometimes in winter months schools and workplaces shouldn’t be too cold just as in summer they shouldn’t be too hot.

‘I think it’s really important for each individual employer and headteacher to make a common-sense decision based on what’s right for them.

‘For some children at school today, though, it’s probably cooler than their home and that’s why it’s really important to be pragmatic and dextrous when it comes to these sorts of decisions.’

This week’s heat and humidity caused thunderstorms to develop, and a yellow thunderstorm warning was active until 11pm on Saturday.

Thunderstorms hit the UK in the night, disrupting flights on Saturday.

By Saturday evening, FlightAware showed 484 inbound and outbound flights were still delayed across Heathrow and Gatwick, with Heathrow reporting 42 per cent of flights delayed and Gatwick 50 per cent.

Elsewhere, the King felt the heat as he met guests at the London Climate Action Week reception and had to be fanned by one of his top aides.

Charles joined delegates from politics, science, business and international climate diplomacy for the reception at St James’s Palace, where temperatures were stifling.

Master of the Household, retired Vice Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, whose department handles official and private entertaining across all royal residences, held a small electric fan close to the King as he chatted to some of the guests.

The historic building does not have air conditioning, and large fans were dotted around the rooms where guests could view stands showcasing green initiatives, and dozens of traditional hand-held fans were given to those attending.