The London Ambulance Service (LAS) faced its highest number of life-threatening emergencies in a single day on Wednesday, as the capital sweltered under extreme heat. The service responded to a record 642 Category 1 incidents, the most critical calls it has ever handled in one day.
Thursday became the hottest June day ever recorded in the UK, with temperatures hitting 36.7°C in Somerset. This broke the previous record of 36.1°C set in Hampshire just a day earlier. London reached 32°C on Thursday, slightly lower than Wednesday's peak, but forecasts predict temperatures could climb to 36°C on Friday. A red weather warning remains in effect until midnight.
Record Demand for Emergency Services
The LAS received nearly 7,900 calls on Wednesday, making it the service's fifth busiest day on record. Ambulance crews treated approximately 3,600 patients. Chief Executive Jason Killens stated: “We have seen the highest number of life-threatening emergencies in our history, driven by the extreme heat across London. Our crews are working very hard in challenging conditions to care for patients, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our people for their incredible hard work.”
To cope with the surge in demand during the heatwave, the LAS has deployed more than 400 additional ambulance crews on the road this week.
Widespread Disruptions Across London
The extreme heat has caused closures and disruptions across the capital. Schools and nurseries have shut, and a hosepipe ban has been implemented in Kent due to surging demand. Transport services have been affected, with the Elizabeth line running fewer trains between Paddington and Heathrow Terminals 4 and 5 due to heat-related restrictions. The Heathrow Express is also operating a reduced service. One rail operator has urged people not to travel for beach trips because of the extreme heat.
Footfall in central London at 9am on Thursday was down approximately 14% compared to the same time last week, according to O2 motion data. Many businesses and offices have closed or reduced hours, with eateries, shops, and salons shutting due to “uncomfortably hot” working conditions.
Water Safety Concerns Amid Heatwave
As Londoners flock to beaches and lidos to cool off, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has called on schools to enhance water safety messaging. This follows several drownings during this year's heatwaves, with at least 15 people, mainly children and teenagers, drowning in open water during late May's hot spell despite warnings about the dangers of swimming in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and canals.
Ms Phillipson said: “My message to parents and to children is just to be really careful, and I’m working with schools and encouraging schools to share water safety advice and water safety lessons with children. And whilst I understand the desire of people to spend time in open water we just need to make sure we keep children safe. I’m encouraging schools to share that material with parents and with children so that they have the best understanding about how to keep themselves safe.”
Climate Change and the Heat Dome
The current heatwave is driven by a “heat dome”—an area of high pressure that stalls over a region and traps heat—settling over western Europe and bringing extreme conditions across the continent. Human-induced climate change, primarily caused by burning fossil fuels, is making such extreme heatwaves more frequent and intense.
Greg Wolverson, deputy chief meteorologist, commented: “We’ve seen a new provisional June maximum temperature record for a second consecutive day as the heatwave continues. This marks unprecedented heat for the month of June and provides further evidence of how high temperature extremes are becoming increasingly common in the UK as a result of human-induced climate change. There’s a chance of this record being challenged again as the warmth moves more markedly east on Friday, before a gradual easing in temperatures through the weekend.”
Anglian Water stated it has no plans to introduce a hosepipe ban this year but urged customers to “use less water wherever they can.”
