Wednesday was the UK’s hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 35.7C breaking the previous record from the summer of 1976. The new high on Wednesday afternoon in Charlwood, Surrey beat the previous top temperature of 35.6C in 1976 and 1957, the Met Office said.
Exceptional Heat Across England and Wales
Much of England and Wales is sweltering in exceptionally hot and humid conditions, which have prompted a rare red warning from the Met Office for extreme heat. The heatwave has led to health warnings, school closures, and transport disruption. It is driven by a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe that has brought extreme conditions across the continent.
Climate Change Driving More Intense Heatwaves
The 50-year-old record has fallen as climate change, mostly the result of burning fossil fuels, is driving increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, which experts say the UK is not prepared for. The Met Office has emphasized that such extreme temperatures are becoming more likely due to human-induced climate change.
