Hottest June day record broken for third day in row as temperature hits 37.3C
A provisional new June temperature record of 37.3C has been set in Suffolk, triggering critical incidents across NHS trusts and widespread travel disruption.
Hottest June day record broken for third day in row as temperature hits 37.3C
The UK has provisionally recorded a new maximum temperature record for June for the third consecutive day, with 37.3C reached at Santon Downham in Suffolk on 26 June. The figure surpasses the high of 36.7C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday, which had followed a high of 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, on Wednesday.
This 50-year-old record, dating back to the summer of 1976, was beaten by more than a full degree. Met Office Chief Forecaster Andy Page said the exceptional heat is unprecedented for June
and serves as another marker of how climate change is shifting temperature extremes in the UK. Scientists warned that this heatwave would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago, as human-driven climate change fuels more frequent and intense extreme heat events.
The current weather is driven by a heat dome
—an area of high pressure that stalls over Western Europe and traps heat. High humidity accompanying the heat has exacerbated the potential for health impacts, according to the Met Office.
Health and Infrastructure Strain
The heatwave has placed severe strain on health services, with six NHS trusts declaring critical incidents. University Hospital Southampton cancelled several planned operations and outpatient appointments. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) responded to its highest number of life-threatening emergencies ever on Wednesday, with a 50% increase in 999 calls compared to a typical June Wednesday and a 30% rise in cardiac arrests.
Dr Hilary Williams, clinical vice-president at the Royal College of Physicians, stated that the heat exposed poor health service infrastructure, noting that many hospitals are not coping. She reported that elderly care wards had reached temperatures over 30C and that critical machinery, including linear accelerators used to treat cancer and MRI scanners, had failed due to the heat.
Widespread Disruption and Casualties
The extreme weather triggered significant closures and travel delays:
- Transport: The M5 was closed in both directions between J22 and J23 in Somerset for two hours following a National Grid infrastructure fault. Sheffield's tram network was suspended, and Eurostar cancelled several trains between London and Paris. Network Rail urged passengers to avoid non-essential travel in red and amber warning zones.
- Tourism and Law: Marwell Zoo, the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, and Tower Bridge in London closed to visitors. Stonehenge moved its last entry forward for safety. In Bristol, defendants were moved from Crown Court to Magistrates' Court because cells were too hot, and a firearms conspiracy sentencing at Harrow Crown Court was cancelled because the dock was too hot.
Tragedies occurred as people sought relief in water. In Leicestershire, specialist dive teams recovered the body of 13-year-old Hayden Jones-Powell from Meynell Lake. In Wales, a 50-year-old man died after entering the water at Aberavon beach on Wednesday. Samantha Hughes of the RNLI warned that unexpected entry into cold water can lead to cold water shock.
Storms and Wildfires
While the south remained scorched, the north faced ferocious thunderstorms. The Met Office recorded more than 63,000 lightning strikes over 24 hours. A nursing home in Glastonbury caught fire after a strike.
In Derbyshire, firefighters contained a wildfire on Tintwistle Moor that affected approximately 200 hectares of land.
Regional Temperature Data
| Region | Peak Temperature | Location |
|---|---|---|
| UK (Provisional) | 37.3C | Santon Downham, Suffolk |
| Wales | 35.1C | Hawarden, Flintshire |
| Scotland | 29.2C | Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway |
| Northern Ireland | 25.6C | Katesbridge, County Down |
Other records include a new daily maximum for Wales of 35.9C at Bute Park, Cardiff, on 25 June, and a provisional high of 30.8C in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, equalling its warmest June day on record.
Forecast and Next Steps
A red warning for extreme heat remained in place for London and south-east England until 21:00 BST on Friday. An amber warning remains for south-west England through Saturday evening, where temperatures could reach 32C.
Conditions are expected to shift toward a westerly influence over the weekend. Temperatures will range from 16C in northern Scotland to 27C in eastern England by Sunday. Cooler weather and rain are expected to continue into next week, particularly in the north and west. The Met Office will now begin a rigorous verification process, including site inspections, to officially induct the provisional records into the meteorological books.
