The United Kingdom experienced its hottest day of the year and the fifth-hottest on record this Thursday, as a persistent heatwave pushed temperatures to a peak of 38.1C, according to the Met Office. This latest surge marks the fifth heatwave of the year, putting the summer on track to be the hottest since records began. Kew Gardens in west London recorded the highest temperature in England, provisionally surpassing the 38C peak reached in Lingwood, Norfolk, on 26 June.
An amber heat health alert, warning of significant detrimental impacts to health and social care services, is in place across the whole of England until 21:00 BST on Friday. These warnings cover a vast swathe of the country, stretching from London to Sheffield, including parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Shropshire, and Herefordshire.
A cyclist in Birmingham was seen navigating through a local park that has been completely scorched by the relentless sun. The intense heat has made 2026 the first year on record to see three separate days where temperatures reached the 37C threshold. The only time a temperature this high was recorded twice in a single calendar year was in 2022.
Local impacts were severe, with Charlwood in Surrey and Pershore in Worcestershire both recording 37.8C, while Wisley reached 37.2C. Suzanne Badger, front of house manager at the Pickled Plum pub in Pershore, described the scene as people were “walking in off the street, melting.” She added, “We usually say it’s hotter in the kitchen than outside – but today it’s hotter outside. The heat in the kitchen is unbearable, it is 36C in there.”
The environmental toll is mounting as drought conditions transform the landscape across England and Wales. Almost three-quarters of England, representing approximately 45 million people, are now living in drought conditions. More than 27 million people are currently facing water use restrictions, including hosepipe bans. In east London and Essex, thousands of homes remain without water or are experiencing low pressure following a series of pipe bursts in South Woodford; Thames Water has apologized and expects supplies to be restored by Friday.
The extreme heat is also proving deadly, with A&E departments in England recording their busiest summer ever. In July alone, 2.49 million people attended emergency departments, and preliminary figures suggest there were more than 2,800 heat-related deaths in May and June—almost double the total for the same period last year. Healthcare workers have described the conditions as “vile,” with staff reporting they are “dripping with sweat from head to toe.” Health Secretary Yvette Cooper stated these figures highlight the “additional burden” placed on the NHS, urging the service to plan for summer pressures with the same intensity as winter.
Fire services are under immense strain, with a total of 1,017 wildfires recorded in England and Wales this year, matching last year’s record. In the New Forest, Hampshire, a team of 130 firefighters battled a major blaze on Thursday that affected an area roughly the size of 230 football pitches. Meanwhile, the First Minister has urged shops to stop selling disposable BBQs to mitigate further fire risks.
While England swelters, other parts of the UK face different weather challenges. Temperatures could reach 35C in Wales, where a drought has been declared nationwide. Conversely, a yellow thunderstorm warning is in place for Northern Ireland—which is currently in its fourth heatwave of the summer—until 06:00 on Friday, while rain is forecast for much of Scotland.
Looking ahead, the extreme heat in England is believed to have peaked. Cooler temperatures of 30-34C are expected for the Midlands, East Anglia, and much of southern England by Friday, with further cooling to 26C anticipated by Sunday. The UK continues to face increasingly extreme conditions, including heatwaves, drought, and wildfires, which experts attribute to the ongoing impacts of climate change.
A total of 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, according to data shared by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), which matches last year’s record.
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