Why does unusual weather prompt such dramatic headlines in the UK?

[PistachioTiramisu]

Why do we always have to make such a drama out of the weather in this country? The headlines are screaming doom and gloom with red and amber 'warnings' everywhere because it is hot (and yes, it is hot!). It's the same when we have a tiny dusting of snow in the winter - schools close, transport problems abound, stupid dramatic headlines! I've just taken a look at some of the foreign press - Le Figaro, El Pais, Bildzeitung (all published in countries experiencing the same sort of weather) and only the French actually mention it on their front page! How did we allow ourselves to be frightened and manipulated when we have a period of unusual weather?

We are addicted to drama!

When my parents had a holiday home in SW France I don’t recall headlines for the heat (wasn’t looking!) but the French in the supermarket (checkout girls) complained openly when one spring/summer when it was meant to be hot and sunny and they got unexpected, uncharacteristic cold weather, thunderstorms and rain. I had to buy new warmer clothes as I couldn’t wear the shorts and strappy tops my mum advised me to bring.

Because there’s ’a threat to life’

And deaths a wee bit bad

I'm thinking Michael Fish; circa 1987.

It's not even going to be that hot now. Met office is predicting 37c for Wednesday, not the 40c being predicted yesterday. As they say in Aus, Slip, Slop Slap.

You've said it in your title. Because it's unusual.

.

Not much else to report about is there? 😀

You’ve changed your tune! Aren’t you on the thread about Tesco cancelling deliveries, with the complete opposite view?

You young people can tell your grand children in 2076 all about the summer of 2026.

Because drama sells. Which you gonna click or buy "100s will die this week" or "Its going to be a tad warm drink water"

Well people dying is more important than “it’s a bit warm “ which is also inaccurate - it’s dangerously warm and very unusually warm - but hey go dismiss if you would rather

It’s also front page in the Belgian news websites and this one even mentions the U.K. https://www.rtbf.be/article/vague-de-chaleur-en-europe-records-alertes-et-premieres-consequences-sanitaires-11745757

It is front page news in other countries. 2 and 4 year old siblings died in the same car in France yesterday. Who knows, maybe their parents shrugged at red heat warnings too. Absolute tragedy.

Same here! Yes, it’s warm but not extreme yet after reading British newspapers online, my sister in the US is worried about me as I’m recovering from surgery. I’m just going to enjoy a lovely summers day sat in my garden in the shade and enjoying the breeze!

I mean I’m Polish and our summers can be really hot, it’s the same warnings, weather reports etc. UK infrastructure and houses are not built for this weather.

But wasn't that well before global warming got going? The French are closing schools this week because if the extreme heat, not saying that summer is meant to be hot.

French news has been very much centred on the impending, now on-going canicule (heatwave) since the end of last week.

As far as large scale school closures go, unusual for heat but that might in part be because it's really not the norm to have a canicule this early in the summer when the schools are (just about) still open.

Previous years events have tended to be July/August when schools are off, and TBH Jul/Aug a lot of the population is on hols anyway so no need for a call for the workforce to WFH, a lot of them aren't W'ing anyway.

Because at some level we know that the climate crisis is terrifying-however much we try to deny it.

Exactly.

People will literally witness heat waves in May and June all over Europe and more frequent storms and flooding and just pretend it is all perfectly normal.

I find that utterly bizarre.

This weather is dangerous for many people, especially young children and the elderly but also for people who take certain medications.

Then there are all the drowning accidents that happen during this type of weather as people flock to the sea and rivers.

Forty people have drowned in France over the past few days and the country is having temperature of up to 46 degrees which is completely abnormal in June, or any other month frankly.

Basically this heat is going to kill some people and there are people on her just trying to pretend that it is just a bit of nice, warm weather.

Compared to countries where hot weather is common the UK is also completely unprepared for such high temperatures. We don't usually have air conditioning at home and many workplaces/businesses also don't have it and our public transport, and infrastructure in general, is not set up to cope with very cold or very hot weather.

So rather than sticking our head in the sand I think we need to accept that these extreme weather events are going to keep happening and that we as a country need to become better prepared for it.

Sudan and France are the same temperature at the moment.

No-one can pretend that this is normal.

I feel so much for the French.

Oh I agree

You've answered your own question - because it's unusual, and potentially very dangerous.

No, I think global warming had started by then but not as extreme as it is now. It must be bad if they close schools as I’m sure the ones local to where we lived stayed open no matter what. I’ve got a friend in La Baule area (single mum) with 2 primary school aged children, she works in marketing for a big French supermarket (not saying who!) she’ll be going mad trying to find last minute childcare or wfh unless her ex or his parents do it, as her parents and sister live too far away in Rouen to help out.

I saw that. So sad. 😞

Just watched a GB News piece attempting to make the same point as you @PistachioTiramisu. It was fucking pitiful as well as demonstrating the ignorance of the commentators.🤦‍♀️

A special shout out to Paul Cox who peddled such lies and nonsense, he made his fellow panelists look slightly normal.🙈

He used to be funny.