The United Kingdom has recorded its hottest June day for the second consecutive day, with provisional temperatures reaching 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday, according to the Met Office. This surpasses the previous record of 36.4C set earlier on Thursday at Yeovilton, Somerset, and tops the 36.1C recorded on Wednesday in Gosport, Hampshire. The long-standing June record from 1976 has now been broken twice in two days.
Record-Breaking Heat and Emergency Response
The London Ambulance Service reported its highest ever number of life-threatening emergencies on Wednesday, with 642 category one calls, including cardiac arrests and patients not breathing. 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.” He urged the public to stay out of the sun and keep hydrated.
Wales also saw its hottest June day on record, with 35.9C in Cardiff, while Northern Ireland matched its previous June high of 30.8C in Castlederg. Jersey recorded its hottest day since records began in 1894, reaching 39.3C at the Maison St Louis Observatory.
Health and Infrastructure Impacts
Red heat warnings remain in place for a swathe of England and Wales, extended until 9pm Friday for London and parts of east and southeast England. Amber warnings cover a wider area, and yellow thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The UK Health Security Agency has issued red heat health alerts for several regions.
At least two hospitals declared critical incidents: Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Royal College of Physicians reported severe pressure on staff, with few settings having air conditioning, and patients on geriatric wards facing temperatures up to 35C. One physician described conditions as “awful” due to overcrowding, and two cancer treatment machines stopped working due to the heat.
School Closures and Government Response
Many schools closed or introduced early pick-up times. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said schools should decide appropriate measures, adding that the government is coordinating across the UK. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged “more to do” to equip buildings for extreme heat. The National Education Union has urged a timetable for installing air conditioning in schools.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan called for air conditioning to be rolled out to schools, offices, and hospitals as part of the city’s first heat plan. Councils have opened “cool hubs” in areas including Lambeth, Barking and Dagenham, and Woking. Churches across the country, including in Birmingham, Chichester, and the Diocese of Ely, have offered shade to the public.
Climate Context and Future Outlook
Greg Wolverson, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “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.” He noted that the record could be challenged again as warmth moves east on Friday, before a gradual easing through the weekend.
The heatwave is driven by a “heat dome” – an area of high pressure trapping heat over western Europe. Human-caused climate change, primarily from burning fossil fuels, is making such extreme events more frequent and intense. Calls have renewed for the UK to better prepare for rising heat risks, including cooling for hospitals, schools, and care homes, workplace heat regulations, and infrastructure adaptation.
