The UK’s all-time temperature record for June, dating back to 1976, is expected to be broken this week, according to the Met Office. The record-breaking news comes as the Met Office has issued a Red Extreme Heat Warning for Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June, as parts of the country, including London, could exceed temperatures of 39°C.
This extreme weather coincides with the 50th anniversary of the 1976 heatwave. The Met Office projections indicate that hot spells like this week will become more frequent in our future climate, particularly over the south-east of the UK.
Temperatures across southern and central England and much of Wales are forecast to rise sharply from Monday through to Thursday, prompting a red warning alongside existing amber heat warnings. Southern England could rise to 37°C on Tuesday and at least 39°C on Wednesday and Thursday, with the possibility of even higher temperatures. By Friday, conditions will ease slightly to around 32°C in eastern areas.
Nights are forecast to remain very warm, with widespread Tropical Nights where temperatures stay above 20°C, especially in urban areas. High humidity will intensify the heat’s impact, increasing the risk of heat stress and could affect sectors such as transport, energy, water supply, and public safety, with more people likely to visit coastal and inland waters.
What is the UK’s current highest temperature record for June?
The current UK highest temperature on record for June is 35.6°C, which was recorded in Southampton in June 1976 and Camden Square in June 1957. However, 50 years on, the Met Office predicts that the current UK highest temperature on record for June will very likely be broken this week.
In addition, the Wales June temperature record of 33.7°C set in 2000 is also likely to be broken this week. Accoding to the Met Office, the June record for Scotland stands at 32.2°C, and for Northern Ireland it’s 30.8°C, and while these are less likely to be broken, even these parts of the UK are expecting daytime temperatures in the high 20s, perhaps low 30s °C.
“The heat is expected to be accompanied by high humidity”
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said: “Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat. The last time the UK recorded temperatures this high was in July 2022, but on this occasion the heat is expected to be accompanied by high humidity.
“As well as very high daytime temperatures, there will be consecutive nights where temperatures do not drop below 20°C, which is called a Tropical Night. This will make it very hard for people to recover from the daytime heat, exacerbating the heat stress impacts.”
When will temperatures go down?
Temperatures will reach their highest on Wednesday (June 24) and Thursday (June 25), with a small chance of exceeding the forecast peak. From Friday onward, the Met Office has forecast that high pressure will shift east, bringing slightly cooler conditions, though the southeast, including London, will stay warm the longest.
Rain and clouds may arrive from the west on Friday, especially in the northwest of England. Over the weekend, the Met Office says a westerly pattern will develop, causing temperatures to fall into the high 20s on Saturday and continue dropping on Sunday and early next week.
