Great white sharks could increasingly frequent British beaches due to a prolonged marine heatwave, creating potential hazards, experts suggest. The Met Office warned of an upcoming marine heatwave, causing warmer sea temperatures that might attract Mediterranean species like great white sharks and box jellyfish to UK waters.
Oceans becoming warmer could lead to the decline of native marine species such as cod fish while introducing new threats like sharks, jellyfish, toxic algal blooms, and contaminated waters. The ongoing heatwave has expanded to northern UK regions, with temperatures expected to reach 34C. The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber heat health alert for the Northest of England.
The rising sea surface temperatures around the British Isles, notably 5C above average in some Welsh and English coastal areas, indicate a potential extreme marine heatwave, a rare occurrence in the UK. The changing climate could result in the disappearance of certain species like cod and the emergence of others like jellyfish.
According to oceanographer Jim Dale, the warming coasts may pose dangers to beachgoers, with the risk of toxic algal blooms in the heated waters. He emphasized the potential threat posed by unseen hazards like poisonous algal blooms and the impact on family beach activities.
Notably, the presence of great white sharks and other Mediterranean species in UK waters could escalate as a consequence of warming seas, affecting local ecosystems and wildlife. The intense heatwave, triggered by a heat dome, could have severe ecological impacts and possibly lead to mass-mortality events for certain species.
As the heatwave persists, Scotland and northern England are likely to experience warmer temperatures, while the threat of thunderstorms looms. Forecasters anticipate a gradual cooling in southern regions by Saturday, followed by a risk of thunderstorms. The continuation of warm, dry weather is expected in many parts of the UK, with potential heatwave conditions persisting, particularly in the southwest.
Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree highlighted the extended warm weather period due to high pressure systems, indicating a shift in the hottest regions towards the southwest. The forecast suggests ongoing warm and dry conditions with a chance of thunderstorms in parts of the south and southwest.
