The UK has recorded its hottest June day on record, with temperatures reaching 36.1°C (97°F) in Gosport, Hampshire, according to provisional data from the Met Office. This surpasses the previous June record of 35.6°C set in 1957. Meanwhile, France has experienced its hottest day ever, with the national heat index hitting a new high of 30°C, breaking the previous record set in 2003 and 2019.
The heatwave, affecting over 90 million people across Europe, has prompted the World Health Organization to warn that extreme temperatures are putting lives at risk. In France, 72 departments are under red alert, home to more than three-quarters of the population. Spain has also seen record June daily average temperatures, while Italy placed 16 cities under red alert, restricting outdoor work during peak hours.
In the UK, over 1,000 schools and nurseries in England and Wales are partly or fully closed, and transport bosses have urged people to avoid travel. The ceremonial guard changes outside Buckingham Palace have been cancelled for the rest of the week. The Met Office issued a rare red extreme heat warning, effective from Wednesday morning until Thursday evening.
Across Europe, measures to cope with the heat include rescheduling exams in France, extending park hours in Paris, and cancelling outdoor sports in the Netherlands. Switzerland offered free cinema screenings in air-conditioned theatres. The heatwave has also led to slower train speeds, hospital appointment cancellations, and hosepipe bans in some areas.
