Overview
- Temperatures climbed to about 32°C on Thursday in Darlington and other towns, filling beaches and beauty spots with thousands of sunseekers.
- An amber heat-health alert covered the region through August 14 at 21:00 and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue warned against disposable BBQs, campfires and discarded cigarettes to reduce fire risk.
- The Met Office said the hot spell would start to ease from August 14 as cloud thickens overnight and rain spreads in, with cooler, wetter weather expected into next week.
- A partial solar eclipse on the evening of August 12 coincided with the warm conditions and prompted public guidance on eye safety for viewers.
- The brief heat episode forms part of an unusually hot 2026 summer with multiple extreme-heat days nationally, which has increased use of amber health alerts and amplified risks for vulnerable people and outdoor fires.