The United Kingdom has hit its highest temperature of the year, with the Met Office confirming that Kew Gardens in west London reached 38.1C on Thursday. This extreme reading marks the fifth time this year that the nation has faced a heatwave and ranks as the fifth-hottest day since official tracking began. The previous high for 2026 was recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk, in late June.
An amber heat health alert remains active across England until Friday evening, highlighting significant risks to social care services and public health. Beyond London, locations like Pershore and Charlwood also saw temperatures surge past 37C. The intense weather has placed immense pressure on the National Health Service, with emergency departments reporting record-high attendance. Official figures indicate that more than 2,800 heat-related deaths occurred during May and June alone.
The impact extends to infrastructure and the environment, as drought conditions now affect approximately 45 million people across England. Millions face water restrictions, while thousands in east London and Essex continue to deal with supply outages following recent pipe bursts. Furthermore, wildfires have become a recurring threat, with the National Fire Chiefs Council noting over 1,000 incidents so far this year, including a massive blaze in the New Forest. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that the NHS must adapt to these regular summer crises with the same strategic planning typically reserved for winter.
