The United Kingdom experienced its hottest June day on record Wednesday, with temperatures climbing to 36.0C in Wisley, Surrey. This new record surpasses the previous highest June temperature of 35.6C, which was set in 1957 and equaled in 1976.
Across southern England and the Midlands, temperatures widely soared into the low to mid thirties. In response to the intense heat, the Met Office extended its red warning for extreme heat. This warning is currently active across parts of southern England, the Midlands, and south Wales until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.
Further heat warnings are in place for the coming days. An amber warning for extreme heat covers a broader area of England for the entirety of Friday. On Saturday, another amber warning is focused on the east and south-east of England.
While these temperatures are notably high, they remain below the UK's all-time highest temperature record of 40.3C, which was set in 2022.
The combination of heat and humidity also poses a risk of triggering stormy weather. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms affecting south-west England from 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. Although most areas in the south-west may avoid the most severe storms, some locations could experience disruption.
