Remembering summer 1976: how the historic heatwave has become our new normal

Half a century on, Britain braces for temperatures up to 40C as global heating brings yet more extreme weather. The summer of 1976 is seared on to national memory as one of record heat. Harvests failed, farmers despaired, Britain imported an extra million tonnes of grain, food prices rose by 12%, taps ran dry, and each day, 250 people died from heat-related deaths.The heatwave, which began 50 years ago on Tuesday, brought 15 consecutive days where the peak temperature was above 32C. Half a century later and 32C no longer feels shocking. Continue reading...