UK Records Hottest June Day Ever With 36.1C in Hampshire
The United Kingdom experienced its hottest June day on record this Wednesday, with temperatures peaking at 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire. This new high surpassed the previous June record of 35.6C, which had been set in 1957 in Camden and in 1976 in Southampton.
The extreme heat was felt most acutely across southern England and Wales. Other high readings included 36C in Wisley, Surrey, 35.9C in Wiggonholt, West Sussex, and 35.7C in Charlwood, Surrey. In Wales, Cardiff Bute Park recorded its hottest day of the year so far at 33.3C.
In response to the conditions, the Met Office issued a red extreme heat warning for south and central England and south Wales. This marked only the second time such a warning has been issued in the UK, the first being in July 2022. The UK Health Security Agency also implemented a red heat-health alert, warning of potential population-wide adverse health effects and danger to life.
The heatwave caused significant disruption to public services. More than 800 schools in England were disrupted, and several train operators, including Avanti West Coast, Northern, Thameslink, and South Western Railway, implemented reduced timetables and urged passengers to avoid non-essential travel. Transport for London also warned that the high temperatures could disrupt rail and Tube services.
Emma Howard-Boyd of the National Heat Commission stated that the disruption to transport and school closures indicated that the UK was "not prepared" for the heatwave. The Met Office forecast that the heat would persist into Thursday and Friday, with temperatures potentially reaching 38C.
Forecasters also warned of "tropical nights," where overnight temperatures remain high. Minimum temperatures in the Midlands, south-east England, and Wales were expected to stay between 21C and 23C, potentially breaking the current UK and England record of 22.7C set in 1979.
