The 1976 heatwave saw the UK reach temperatures of 32C and over for 15 days in a row from June to July, making it one of the hottest places on earth at that time. Wales had been suffering a dry spell for many months before the legendary heatwave hit, leading to severe water shortages.
The hottest temperature recorded was a sweltering 35.9C in Cheltenham. The heatwave began on June 23 and continued for 15 sweaty days until July 7, with the temperature in Wales exceeding 32.2C every day, and going above 35C on five of those days.
The drought caused by the dry spell and heatwave saw reservoirs and the River Taff dry up, so much so that children rode their bikes along it. In a bizarre twist, one photo from the heatwave shows a flock of camels from Longleat Safari Park being led through a dried up reservoir at Penholn, Monmouthshire.
Read More: 21 pictures that show how South Wales coped during the heatwave of 1976
Wildfires also took hold in Gwydyr Forest, Snowdonia, and on the Trefil mountains. Meanwhile, Welsh factories were forced to close due to the water shortages, as they usually used millions upon millions of gallons of water each day.
With water reserves dwindling by July 14 the Welsh National Water Development Authority cut off the water supply for 400,000 people each night. A ban on washing cars and watering gardens was also put in place.
Finally on August 31 the heavens opened and the drought began to ease. However, water rationing continued in parts of Wales until November 1976 as the country recovered.
The 1976 heatwave is the hottest in recent memory. Prior to 1976, the heatwave of 1955 took the record of the hottest summer, bar 1826, with a high temperature of 33.8C.
What’s the highest temperature ever recorded in Wales?
The highest temperature ever recorded in Wales was 35.2C in Hawarden Bridge in Flintshire on August 2, 1990. However, the highest July temperature recorded in Wales was 34.6C in 2006, according to the Met Office. In the UK it was 38.7C on July 25, 2019, in Cambridge Botanic Garden.
READ NEXT:
- Met Office issues 'extreme heat' warning for large parts of Wales
- The heatwave of 1976 when reservoirs dried up, mountains burned and factories shut
- The Welsh beach plagued by 'defecation, drugs and verbal abuse'
- Mini tornado' leaves Welsh campsite owners in disbelief
- Abercarn rave sees people party through the night as police called
