Britain experienced its highest June temperatures on record on Thursday, with multiple locations across southern England registering new daily highs that surpassed longstanding benchmarks. The Met Office reported peak temperatures of 36°C at both Wisley in Surrey and Gosport in Hampshire, exceeding the previous June record of 35.6°C set in 1976 and 1957. Earlier in the day, Wiggonholt in West Sussex recorded 35.8°C, and Charlwood in Surrey registered 35.7°C.
The extreme heat struck amid an intense heatwave affecting much of England and Wales, prompting the Met Office to issue a rare red warning for severe heat for Thursday and Friday. Areas covered by the alert include London, the south coast, Swansea, Somerset, and Birmingham. Health authorities also issued red heat health alerts for the East of England, East Midlands, London, South East, South West, and West Midlands, while amber alerts were in place for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber. These warnings, effective from early Thursday morning until late Friday evening, indicate that the high temperatures pose risks to public health and wellbeing.
The unprecedented warmth is attributed to a "heat-dome" weather pattern currently settled over western Europe, creating sustained extreme conditions across the continent. Experts highlighted the significance of breaking a nearly 50-year-old record, emphasizing that climate change—primarily driven by fossil fuel emissions—is causing increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves in the UK, for which the country remains insufficiently prepared.
Met Office science manager Amy Doherty noted that while the temperature figures are provisional and subject to verification after the heatwave, a confirmed new June record would underscore a trend of rising extreme temperatures. “Temperatures previously considered extreme are becoming increasingly common as a result of human-induced climate change,” she said.
Forecasters warned that temperatures may rise further, with projections suggesting the possibility of reaching 38°C to 39°C later on Friday. Should the thermometer hit 39°C, it would be the second-highest temperature recorded in the UK overall and set a new benchmark for June. A reading of 38°C would still rank among the five warmest days on record and exceed any temperature recorded in the 20th century.
The heatwave’s impact extended beyond temperature records. More than 1,000 schools and nurseries in England and Wales planned either full or partial closures, while others adjusted school hours and relaxed uniform requirements to mitigate heat effects. Public transport services faced disruptions, and officials urged residents to remain indoors during peak heat, close windows and curtains, and maintain hydration.
Looking ahead, the Met Office maintained an amber warning for heat into Saturday for parts of east and southeast England, while a yellow warning for thunderstorms was in place for the South West on Thursday evening. The persistence of high temperatures over the coming days raises continued concerns about infrastructure, public health, and preparedness in the face of changing climate patterns.