UK records hottest June day as dangerous heatwave grips the country

The UK broke its record for the hottest June day when a weather station in Somerset reached 36.7°C on a Thursday in June 2026. The Met Office issued red heat warnings for London and south-eastern England for at least three days in a row, with some areas hitting 38°C. Overnight temperatures also stayed unusually high, staying above 22°C in several places. Across the country, more than 160 weather stations set new records for the hottest May temperatures ever measured. Kew Gardens in London reached 35.1°C, well above its previous record of 29.3°C. Oxford and other towns in central and southern England also saw temperatures above 33°C. The Met Office warned that the heat posed serious risks to public health and to key infrastructure.