Hottest June day ever as UK heatwave smashes temperature records
Wednesday marked the UK’s hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 35.8C recorded in Wiggonholt, West Sussex – surpassing the 35.7C recorded earlier in Charlwood, Surrey, the Met Office said. Temperatures are anticipated to peak at approximately 38C on Thursday and Friday, pot
By Rom Preston-Ellis
Wednesday marked the UK’s hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 35.8C recorded in Wiggonholt, West Sussex – surpassing the 35.7C recorded earlier in Charlwood, Surrey, the Met Office said.
Temperatures are anticipated to peak at approximately 38C on Thursday and Friday, potentially reaching even higher in some areas, as a 'heat-dome' over western Europe contributes to the extreme conditions, exacerbated by human-driven climate change.
The heatwave has led to significant disruption, with over 1,000 schools and nurseries in England and Wales either closed or partially closed, alongside transport service interruptions and public health advice urging people to stay indoors and hydrated.
There are growing calls for the government to implement more robust measures to protect the UK from increasingly extreme heat, including the installation of cooling systems in hospitals, schools, and care homes.
The Met Office's red warning for extreme heat, which came into effect on Wednesday, has been extended to include the south coast of England until the end of Thursday, with an amber warning issued for much of England on Friday.