Charles pays tribute to ‘resilience' of Antarctic research scientists
While the UK enjoys its longest day of sunlight on Saturday, British scientists at the South Pole experience 24 hours of darkness.
In a morale-raising message recorded for the BBC's midwinter broadcast, Charles praised the researchers' 'critically important' work as well as their 'resilience and commitment' to their jobs.
'Each observation, measurement and calculation you undertake adds to the world's understanding of the Earth's fragile systems,' he said.
'With the sun shying away from your horizon today, I particularly wanted to send my warmest good wishes.'
Charles said the research stations highlight the 'role humanity plays, as we struggle to live in harmony with nature'.
It comes a month after the King, a longtime environmental advocate, urged people to help save the planet during a charity fundraiser, telling the crowd: 'Collaboration is far better than conflict.'
He said the charity's work comes at a time when efforts are under way to 'develop an even greater ability to manage the human and animal conflict'.
Charles said: 'If we're going to rescue this poor planet (from) continuing degradation, and restore some degree of harmony to the proceedings, we must also understand that whatever we take and exploit from nature, we need to give something back in return to enable nature to sustain us.'
The BBC's midwinter broadcast coincides with sweltering weather back on British soil, as the UK prepares for thunderstorms which are set to mix with continued high temperatures on Saturday – with up to 34C possible in some areas.
A yellow thunderstorm weather warning covering all of northern England, from Nottingham up to above Newcastle, will come into force from 3pm and last until 4am on Sunday.
The Met Office warned the most intense storms could produce 'frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds', along with a chance of flooding.
Parts of eastern England could also see temperatures peak high enough to eclipse the 32.2C seen on Thursday and become the hottest day of the year so far.
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South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Hottest day of the year so far recorded in UK by Met Office
The Met Office said that a provisional temperature of 33.2C has been recorded in Charlwood in Surrey, making it the hottest day of the year so far. It means that the UK is currently hotter than certain holiday destinations, including Hawaii, with temperatures only in their early 20s today (June 21). However, parts of the UK should expect thunderstorms as the heatwave continues, according to the forecaster. Saturday is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year That means it will have the highest number of daylight hours in 2025 ☀️ A yellow warning for thunderstorms covering parts of south-east Scotland, Yorkshire, the Midlands and Wales was issued by the Met Office earlier today, as it said there could be "frequent lightning, large hail, strong winds and heavy rain" in the affected areas. Up to 40mm of rain could fall in less than two hours, the forecaster said, as it urged those in the warning areas to consider whether their location is at risk of flash flooding and to prepare accordingly. The alert, which includes Manchester, Derbyshire and Newcastle upon Tyne, is in place from 5pm on Saturday until 3am on Sunday. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. Recommended reading: What is the best SPF moisturiser? Harley Street advice Can I use the same sunscreen for my face and my body? How to get sun cream stains out of clothes (you'll need to 'act fast') An amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, for all regions in England remains in place over the weekend. The agency has warned that significant impacts are likely across health and social care services, including an increase in demand, during the alert period. The hot weather comes as thousands of people watched the sunrise over Stonehenge in Wiltshire to celebrate the Summer Solstice this morning, marking the year's longest day.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Thunderstorm weather warning as Scots braced for flooding and travel chaos
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms for parts of Scotland as residents are told to prepare for flooding and lightning strikes. Scots are braced for torrential downpours as a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been extended to parts of Scotland. The Met Office has announced that an existing alert which covered the north of England, Wales and the East Midlands is now in place in the Scottish Borders. After Scots basked in glorious sunshine over the past few days, a heatwave continued across the UK, with the hottest day of the year so far recorded as temperatures swelled to 33.2C near Gatwick. But for the areas affected by the weather warning, the Met Office states that the heat and humidity could cause a band of heavy rain as well as thunder and lightning strikes on Saturday evening, into the early hours of Sunday. SEPA has also issued a flood alert for the Scottish Borders, which is " now in force until further notice". The update means that residents in the Borders are being warned to prepare for potential flooding, power cuts and difficult driving conditions. There is a also a chance of damage to buildings and possible disruption to local bus and rail services. The alert came into place at 5pm on Saturday (June 21) and will last until 3am on Sunday (June 22). A Met Office statement reads: "Whilst some showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected during Saturday afternoon, further and potentially intense thunderstorms are likely to develop during Saturday evening across northwest England and perhaps northeast Wales. "Whilst there is still some uncertainty in when and where these develop, thunderstorms could produce a combination of frequent lightning, large hail, strong winds and heavy rain (in places, 30-40 mm in less than 2 hours) as they move northeast into northeast England and perhaps southeast Scotland overnight. "Thunderstorms are expected to move offshore into the North Sea during the latter part of Saturday night." Meteorologist Aidan McGivern predicted yesterday during his weekend weather update, that the weather could take a turn for the worst as he said Scotland's southern regions could face "large thunderstorms, frequent lightning, large hail, heavy rain, and gusty winds" today. In a video posted on social media, Aidan spoke about the heatwave and the potential for some extreme weather. He said: "This Saturday is the Summer Solstice; peak sun strength. But also, in eastern parts of the UK, peak heatwave, with fresher air arriving through the day from the west. "But as that fresher air collides with the plume of heat coming up from the south, we're likely to see some very severe thunderstorms in places." Scots continued to enjoy warm weather conditions today with temperatures an average of 25C today interspersed with scattered showers. Yesterday, temperatures reached highs of 28.9 degrees in Scotland. Aidan continued: "Very hit and miss showers but by the end of the day we are concerned about all the ingredients coming together to provide the set up for some severe thunderstorms. "And the main focus region at the moment is across the central site of the UK; north Wales, north Midlands, northern England, southern Scotland. "That's where there is the greatest risk of very large thunderstorms, frequent lightning, large hail, heavy rain, gusty winds for a few hours on Saturday late afternoon and into the evening. "If this comes off - because all the ingredients are in the right place, but it's at the moment too early to say exactly when and where - then it would cause considerable impacts." Looking ahead to tomorrow (Sunday) and Scotland is set for some bright, sunny spells as well as scattered showers, occasionally heavy with a chance of thunder. The Met Office states it will be a "fresher day but still quite warm towards the east coast. Maximum temperature 19 °C." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Hottest day of the year so far recorded in UK by Met Office
It means that the UK is currently hotter than certain holiday destinations, including Hawaii, with temperatures only in their early 20s today (June 21). However, parts of the UK should expect thunderstorms as the heatwave continues, according to the forecaster. Saturday is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year That means it will have the highest number of daylight hours in 2025 ☀️ — Met Office (@metoffice) June 20, 2025 A yellow warning for thunderstorms covering parts of south-east Scotland, Yorkshire, the Midlands and Wales was issued by the Met Office earlier today, as it said there could be "frequent lightning, large hail, strong winds and heavy rain" in the affected areas. Up to 40mm of rain could fall in less than two hours, the forecaster said, as it urged those in the warning areas to consider whether their location is at risk of flash flooding and to prepare accordingly. The alert, which includes Manchester, Derbyshire and Newcastle upon Tyne, is in place from 5pm on Saturday until 3am on Sunday. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. Recommended reading: An amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, for all regions in England remains in place over the weekend. The agency has warned that significant impacts are likely across health and social care services, including an increase in demand, during the alert period. The hot weather comes as thousands of people watched the sunrise over Stonehenge in Wiltshire to celebrate the Summer Solstice this morning, marking the year's longest day.
