Thread by @MonkEmma

It was inevitable, wasn't it🙄

Of course the Telegraph would run with something like this👇

So let's remove some of the rose-tinted spectacles and also look at some of that data comparing 1976 with modern heat waves

Because the 1976 nostalgia porn is wearing a bit thin at this stage

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Let's start by saying:

Yes, it was very hot in 1976
Yes, it lasted for several weeks
Yes, it was accompanied by a drought that lasted many months
Yes, it was an extraordinary event

Which is why it has stuck in the British consciousness BECAUSE it was so unusual

And yet...

The peak temperature in 1976 was 35.9°C

That doesn't even make the top 10 of UK record temperatures.

The 1911 record stood for 79 years
The 1990 record stood for 13 years
The 2003 record stood for 16 years
The 2022 record may be broken this week, after 4 years

2/

Yeah, well, it's not about peak temperatures, it's about how hot the whole summer was!

OK, 1976 no longer makes the top 5 hottest summers.

They are all from 2000 onwards

3/

35°C is normal, we used to just call that summer!

Here's how many summers topped 32°C

70s 4
80s 2
90s 8
2000s 6
2010s all of them
2020s all of them

And here's how many summers topped 35°C

70s 1
80s 0
90s 2
2000s 2
2010s 3
2020s 4 (out of 6 so far)

It didn't use to be normal to hit even 32°C
It's now happened every year since 2010

It certainly wasn't normal to hit 35°C
It happened in just 10 summers in the 20th Century
It's happened 9 times in the first 26 years of the 21st Century

6/

Yes, 1976 was an exceptional year - which is why everyone remembers it.

Britain had a uniquely hot summer.

Against a backdrop of reasonable global temperatures.

That's not where we're at now!

They've since had to extend the scale from 4.1°C anomaly to 8.8°C!👇

7/

Studies have shown that the conditions that caused the 1976 heat wave would likely lead to a comparable event being 3°C hotter today.

And before anyone chimes in saying that's not much, the last ice age was only 6°C cooler than pre-industrial global temperatures!

8/

On that point - the planet is currently heating at a rate of 0.35°C per decade

By that calculation, it would take us 170 years to add 6°C.

Something that naturally took 5,000-10,000 years previously

(So yes, climate has always changed - but NOT at this rate!)

9/

So let's look at some of these "oh, it was all great in 1976" claims.

Firstly - these are all coming from people who were CHILDREN at the time.

Of course, they remember it being fun and games.

They didn't have to go to work or worry about vulnerable relatives

10/

Secondly, as we've already covered, it wasn't as HOT.

These are the London temperatures during the heatwave.

Many days peaked around 32°C, and a few higher, up to a max 35.9°C (In Cheltenham, so not on this graph).

It was the drought and the length of the heatwave that was unique.
11/

Today we've had temperatures above 35.3°C, and we're expecting up to 39°C tomorrow.

That's a VERY different kettle of fish compared to 32-35°C.

Because there isn't a linear relationship between temperature increase and discomfort/danger levels

12/

Our skin is around 35°C

So we really need the air temp to be <35°C in order for sweat to evaporate and cool us down.

When we go above 35°C AND we have high humidity - which we currently have - our bodies - yes, even the fit and healthy ones - have to work really hard to regulate

So, sticking 30 children in a poorly ventilated classroom designed to retain heat, with no AC and windows that barely open, when the outside temperature is actually above skin temperature, is really NOT a good idea.

They ain't learning anything in that environment!

14/

As for the idea that 1976 was all just splashing about and eating ice creams?

Rail tracks buckled
The M1 melted
£500 million in crop damages and increased food prices
Factories closed
Some people worked from 6 am to 2.30 (I know, what snowflakes!😜)
TV sets overheated!

15/

In Wales, taps were switched off 17 hours a day
There were £60million in subsidence claims from the droughts
Wildfires were rife
Domestic violence spiked
Hospitalisations spiked
250 people died PER DAY

16/

And guess what, the "nanny state" put out warnings about how dangerous the heat was for babies.

They weren't just left to use "common sense"

A minister for drought was appointed, and an emergency act of parliament was passed to allow water rationing.

17/

So no, it wasn't all a consequence-free-for-all where everyone went about their day just "enjoying the summer".

And no, we can't just pretend 37+ is "just summer"

And no, we can't pretend these temperatures aren't getting far more common and will cause serious problems in years to come

18/

I'm not going to do a full-on look at the consequences of this heat - I'll save that for another thread!

But we currently have lifts not working, the A3 melting, and a spike in burn hospitalisations in children

We do not have the infrastructure for these temperatures!

19/

No - issuing health warnings as temperatures soar way above anything seen in 1976 is not "heatwave hysterics"

And yes - warnings were also issued in 1976, workplaces made changes, government imposed restrictions, and it wasn't all fun and games and ice lollies.🙄

Stay cool.

Look out for vulnerable loved ones and neighbours.

Heed warnings.

There are no medals for "keeping calm and carrying on" in 35°C heat if you're doing something that isn't essential

21/

And no, it isn't "nannying neurotics" infecting our once great "resilient country" to share public health messaging highlighting the different signs to look out for for both heat exhaustion and heatstroke!

"common sense" is NOT a substitute for public health messaging🙄

22/

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Right, I'm off for a cool shower! 🥵🥵

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