UK weather: Flight and rail chaos as air traffic control goes down after ‘hottest temperature in recorded history’
Follow our coverage as travellers were hit by delays and cancellations following extreme weather
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Your support makes all the difference.Air and rail passengers are being hit by more travel disruption even as temperatures cool after the hottest July day on record.
Flights from London airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, have been delayed and cancelled due to heatwave-related issues technical problems with the UK’s air traffic control system.
It comes as the Met Office received a new provisional recording of 38.7C in Cambridge on Thursday, which – if confirmed – would be a new temperature record for the UK.
The railway network still faces heavy delays and cancellations after soaring temperatures caused overhead cables to sag. Great Northern, Thameslink and East Midland Trains are among the train companies affected with passengers advised to avoid travelling unless the journey is essential.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued a severe weather alert over the weekend warning of potential flooding in north, northeast, northwest and southeast England.
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The body of a 26-year-old man declared missing after he was seen in the water near Waterloo Bridge in central London has been pulled from the River Thames.
Menelik Mimano – last seen struggling in the water around 8.30pm on Tuesday – was found dead near Canary Wharf at around 9.20pm on Thursday night, police said.
Mr Mimano is the third person to die while swimming in the river during this week’s heatwave.
Commuters wait for Eurostar trains from London to Paris at St Pancras International station.
The service has been seriously disrupted due to an over head power line issue caused by the heatwave.
Crowds wait for the Eurostar trains after severe disruptions (EPA/ Andy Rain)
Crowds wait for the Eurostar trains after severe disruptions (EPA/ Andy Rain)
Thundery showers will continue in the east during the rush hour, according to the Met Office. The rest of the country will see sunny spells and scattered showers.
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