Oxford heatwave – crowds sunbathe at Port Meadow temperatures hit 36C

A historic red alert was issued by the Met Office for yesterday (Wednesday, June 24) and today (Thursday, June 25) covering much of the south of England including Oxfordshire.

The Met Office warned those in the impacted areas can expect “hot and humid weather” to continue, “with exceptionally warm temperatures both day and night.”

Yesterday the highest temperature was 36°C, although it could hit 40°C before the end of the week.

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Either way, the latest heatwave is almost certain to surpass the record for June of 35.6°C set in Hampshire in 1976.

Amid these extreme conditions, a number of people were at Port Meadow, picnicking, soaking up the sun or swimming in the River Thames.

(L-R) Charles Onslow, Nat Battiwalla, Meg Thomas, Marianne Morgan, all 22, at Port Meadow (Image: Matthew Evans)

Charles Onslow, Nat Battiwalla, Meg Thomas and Marianne Morgan (all 22) are students at Oxford University and were “enjoying the nonexistence of exams”, having finished them weeks before.

At Brasenose and Jesus colleges, they are studying classics and sanskrit, English and theoretical physics and had a load of water with them.

“We have been sensible,” Ms Morgan said, who added that she “feels some pity” for anyone still taking exams.

Nearby were a group of students at Oxford Brookes: Alex Worth, Alex Draper, Eve Carthern, Jess Agnew and Ethan Mwall.

(L-R) Alex Worth, Alex Draper, Eve Carthern, Jess Agnew and Ethan Mwall enjoy the sun at Port Meadow (Image: Matthew Evans)

Studying motorsport engineering, zoology, anthropology, art history, geography and business, they said it was “so hot we needed to go out”.

Although, they were all planning to go into the river there was disagreement about whether they were enjoying the high temperatures.

Ms Cathern said: “It’s really nice; I like it.”

However, Mr Mwall was struggling and said: “It’s way too hot; we are dying.”

Ella Tolchard, 21, and Charlotte Real. 21. sunbathing at Oxford Port Meadow (Image: Matthew Evans)

Ella Tolchard and Charlotte Real, 21, had some time off work and so went to Port Meadow for some sunbathing.

Ms Tolchard said: “We saw the UV rays and decided to head down.”

“It is boiling though,” she added.

Ms Real said: “I am enjoying it; I’m getting a nice tan.”

Steve Chipman, 55, and Trevor Wisker, 57, at Oxford Port Meadow (Image: Matthew Evans)

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Steve Chipman, 55, and Trevor Wisker, 57, were on a group holiday in Oxford, having come from Devon and Cornwall respectively.

This was their fourth and final day in the city, with Mr Chipman said the walk to Port Meadow had been “hard work”.

Mr Wisker added: “I would have preferred to go to the beach to be honest. But there is the Thames and Oxford is beautiful. I am not complaining.”

Temperatures are expected to dip on Saturday to 28°C and will go lower on Sunday to 24°C.