The Met Office reports that the United Kingdom reached its hottest temperature of the year on Thursday, with Kew Gardens in west London hitting 38.1C. This reading makes it the fifth warmest day in national records. The sweltering weather constitutes the fifth heatwave of 2026, with experts predicting this summer could become the hottest ever documented.
An amber health alert remains active across England until Friday evening, highlighting potential strains on social care and medical services. Other notable temperatures included 37.8C in both Charlwood and Pershore. Workers in hospitality and emergency services have described the conditions as exceptionally difficult, noting the extreme burden on the NHS. Recent data indicates over 2,800 heat-linked fatalities occurred in May and June.
Water supplies are also under immense strain, with roughly 45 million people in England currently living under drought conditions. Hosepipe bans and water usage restrictions now affect over 27 million residents. Additionally, thousands of properties in east London and Essex have dealt with water outages for nearly a week following pipe failures.
Wildfires continue to pose a significant threat, with 1,017 incidents recorded across England and Wales this year. Emergency crews in the New Forest recently spent hours containing a fire covering an area equivalent to 230 football pitches. While conditions in England are expected to moderate by Sunday, the nation continues to navigate the severe impacts of these recurring heatwaves.