The UK provisionally set a new June temperature record of 37.7°C on Friday, even higher than initially reported, as a punishing heatwave gripped parts of the country. The Met Office confirmed the reading was measured at Lingwood in Norfolk, east of Norwich, surpassing the 37.3°C recorded at Santon Downham in Suffolk on the same day.
Record-Breaking Heat
The new provisional record beats the previous UK June high of 35.6°C from 1976 by more than 2°C, a significant margin given that such records are typically broken by only a fraction of a degree. The Met Office noted that the June 2026 heatwave would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago, with human-driven climate change fueling more intense and frequent extreme heat events.
Impact of the Heatwave
The extreme heat, accompanied by high humidity, led the Met Office to issue a rare red warning for extreme heat in some areas—the first time a red warning has been issued for three consecutive days. The heatwave forced schools and nurseries to close, caused record call-outs for ambulances, and led hospitals to declare critical incidents. Train cancellations, court delays, and a hosepipe ban in Kent due to soaring water demand also resulted.
Tragic Incident
Greater Manchester Police reported that the body of a teenage boy was recovered from Clifton Country Park in Swinton after a 15-year-old got into difficulty in the water on Saturday. Detective Inspector Dave Ogden from Salford CID said: "Saturday's incident is truly heart breaking, and my thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of the young boy who has so tragically lost his life. While we are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances, this incident is an incredibly upsetting reminder of the serious risks associated with open water."
Weather Outlook
The Met Office stated that temperatures have returned to average for the coming week, bringing largely settled conditions. However, a return to heat is expected early next week, likely leading to heatwave conditions for some, but without the extreme highs or humidity seen last week. Tony Wisson, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: "The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20Cs across parts of England, perhaps 30°C in parts of the South East, with values of mid to high 20Cs in Wales. Although a return to heatwave conditions is looking increasingly likely for some areas, the likelihood of such extreme high temperatures or high levels of humidity as last week is currently low."
