Forecasters are warning that the United Kingdom could experience its warmest June night ever, shortly after the country registered its highest temperature of the year on Thursday afternoon, reaching 36.7C (98.1F). The Met Office reported that this peak was recorded at Merryfield, Somerset, marking it as the hottest June day to date. A rare red warning for extreme heat, which signals a potential danger to life, remains in effect until midnight for parts of Wales and southern, central, and western England. For the first time, this warning has been extended for a third consecutive day, continuing to impact millions in London and the south-east of England until 21:00 BST on Friday.
The intense heatwave has resulted in school closures, the implementation of a hosepipe ban for customers in Kent, and significant disruptions to transport networks. Wednesday night already saw the UK register its warmest June night on record, creating difficult sleeping conditions for many. Specifically, overnight temperatures in Cardiff did not fall below 23.5C, surpassing the previous record of 22.7C established in 1976. That record remains at risk as temperatures continue to climb.
All four UK nations set new temperature highs for the year on Thursday. Beyond Merryfield’s 36.7C, Wales hit a provisional high of 35.6C at Bute Park, Cardiff, easily breaking its previous June record of 33.7C from 2000. Scotland reached 31.2C in Threave, Dumfries and Galloway, while Northern Ireland recorded 30.0C in Castlederg, County Tyrone. The Met Office has cautioned that the heat may lead to population-wide health issues, significant changes to daily routines, and failures in heat-sensitive systems or power infrastructure.
At least six NHS trusts in England have declared critical incidents, with reports indicating that the heat is affecting IT systems, lab testing, and specialized cancer equipment. The London Ambulance Service has reported a record number of life-threatening emergencies attributed to the extreme weather. Tragically, South Wales Police confirmed that a 50-year-old man died after entering the water at Aberavon beach on Wednesday; the death is not currently being treated as suspicious. National Rail has advised against all but essential travel in areas covered by the red or amber weather warnings, and over 2,400 schools across England and Wales have closed.
This extreme weather is driven by a “heat-dome” of high pressure trapping air over western Europe. According to the Met Office, the frequency of days exceeding 30C in the UK has more than tripled between 2015 and 2024 compared to the 1961-1990 average, and scientists warn that such high temperatures are likely to become more common in the future.
