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The UK has experienced its hottest June day for the third consecutive day, as temperatures soared to 37.3°C in Suffolk, according to the Met Office. This new milestone surpassed a 50-year-old record by more than one degree, underscoring the severity of the heatwave affecting the country this week. The intense heat has led to widespread travel disruptions, forced hundreds of schools to close, and pressured six NHS trusts to declare critical incidents due to the surge in patients.
The previous records were set over the last few days, with 36.7°C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset on Thursday and 36.1°C in Gosport, Hampshire on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Wales reached a high of 35.1°C in Hawarden, Flintshire, while Scotland’s peak temperature was 29.2°C in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway. Northern Ireland experienced cooler conditions with a maximum of 25.6°C in Katesbridge, County Down. In all four nations, this week saw the highest temperatures of the year so far, accompanied by warm nighttime conditions termed “tropical nights,” particularly in England and Wales where temperatures remained above 20°C.
Health services have struggled under the pressure of the heatwave. Emergency departments have seen increased demand from heat-related illnesses, and basic hospital infrastructure has been unable to cope. Dr Hilary Williams, clinical vice-president at the Royal College of Physicians, noted on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that MRI machines and scanners were affected by the heat and that many wards, particularly elderly care units, were experiencing temperatures exceeding 30°C. In London, the Ambulance Service reported a roughly 50% rise in 999 calls during the heatwave. Jason Killens, head of the London Ambulance Service, mentioned that all non-essential training and meetings had been cancelled to prioritize frontline response.
The extreme weather has also impacted schools, with at least 600 schools in England closing either fully or partially on Friday, following a week in which more than 2,000 schools across England and Wales have shut due to the heat. Amid the heatwave, tragic news emerged from Leicestershire, where a 13-year-old boy, Hayden Jones-Powell, drowned in open water. His family paid tribute to his “big smile” while authorities reiterated warnings about the dangers of entering open waters during such conditions.
As the weekend approaches, the heat is expected to subside. Friday night will remain warm in south-east England, with lows around 20°C, but cooler temperatures will prevail in northern and western regions. Thunderstorms are forecast overnight in northern Scotland, where a yellow warning has been issued, alongside showers in other parts of the UK and Northern Ireland. Some isolated thundery showers may also occur in eastern England during the early hours.
Saturday will see continued high temperatures in south-east and eastern England, reaching up to 32°C in areas under an amber heat warning. However, northern and western areas of England and Wales will experience milder highs of around 27°C, while Scotland and Northern Ireland will see cooler temperatures near 23°C. Thunderstorms remain possible in south-east and eastern England Saturday night. By Sunday, conditions will become fresher and cooler across the UK, with temperatures ranging between 16°C in northern Scotland and 27°C in eastern England. This cooler pattern, with intermittent rain especially in northern and western regions, is expected to persist into the following week
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