The United Kingdom experienced its hottest June day on record for the third consecutive day on Friday, as temperatures in Suffolk reached 37.3C (99.1F). The previous 50-year-old record was surpassed by over a full degree Celsius, underscoring the severity of the heatwave gripping the nation this week.
The intense heat has caused significant disruptions, including school closures and six NHS trusts declaring critical incidents due to an overwhelming influx of patients. Despite the record-breaking temperatures, the heatwave is expected to subside over the weekend, with a yellow warning for thunderstorms issued for Scotland and parts of northern England.
The provisional highest June temperature was recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk. This new high surpassed Thursday's record of 36.7C (98.1F) in Merryfield, Somerset, which itself broke Wednesday's record of 36.1C (97F) in Gosport, Hampshire.
Across the UK, all four nations recorded their highest temperatures of the year so far this week. Wales reached a peak of 35.1C in a village in Flintshire, while Scotland's highest temperature was 29.2C (84.6F) in Dumfries and Galloway. Northern Ireland recorded a high of 25.6C (78.1F) in County Down. A thunderstorm warning for Friday night was later cancelled.
Many areas in England and Wales experienced "tropical nights," with temperatures remaining above 20C (68F) overnight. Red warnings for extreme heat, signifying a risk to life and population-wide adverse health effects, remained in place for London, the east, and the southeast of England until 9:00 PM BST on Friday. Amber heat warnings were also active for southwest England until Saturday evening.