Temperatures ‘hit record’ for most number of days to hit 34C in calendar year

Temperatures have broken the record for the number of days the UK has seen such temperatures reach or exceed 34C in a calendar year, the Met Office has announced.

Forecasters recorded 34.4C at Wisley in Surrey on Thursday, breaking the previous record of seven days set in both the infamous summer of 1976 and 2020.

It comes as the country swelters in the third heatwave of the year, with conditions leading to hosepipe bans and early harvests as well as wider impacts on health, energy, wildfire risks and transport.

European forecasters also confirmed on Thursday that last month was western Europe’s hottest June on record and the second hottest June globally.

Scientists say these record-breaking weather events are becoming more intense and more frequent because of climate change, largely driven by the burning of fossil fuels.

UK officials recently warned that the risk of drought conditions in areas of the country this year is becoming increasingly likely, with officials keeping a close watch on East Anglia, Devon and Cornwall.

Some hosepipe bans have been introduced already as water companies scramble to manage increasingly tight resources.

Cambridge Water announced a temporary hosepipe for its 350,000 customers, marking the first time in three decades that it has introduced the restriction.

In a notice on Thursday afternoon, the utility said its teams are working around the clock to maintain supplies but local water resources “are now under significant pressure” with demand reaching record levels after low levels of rainfall.

South East Water introduced a ban on July 3 for areas of Kent, including those in Ashford, Canterbury, Faversham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Snodland, Tenterden and Tunbridge Wells.

And hosepipe restrictions are also set to come into force for about one million Southern Water customers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on Friday.

On Thursday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) updated its amber health alerts to include the East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber and London from Thursday to Sunday.

It comes on top of the amber alerts already covering the Midlands and southern England from Wednesday to Sunday.

This means significant impacts are likely across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.

Yellow heat health alerts have also been issued by the agency for northern England until Sunday.

Early harvests have also begun with Waitrose announcing on Thursday that it has officially commenced its earliest ever for wheat and oilseed rape at its Hampshire-based farm, the Leckford Estate.

The supermarket said the unprecedented early start is a direct result of unseasonably high temperatures, which have caused the crops to ripen much faster than usual this year.

Traditionally, harvest season runs from late July through to October in the UK.

Dave Miles, farm manager at the Leckford Estate, said: “The record-breaking heat we are experiencing is a stark wake-up call to our changing climate.”

Britain’s electricity grid operator issued another plea to the industry for more power generation, forecasting a tight period for electricity margins for Thursday evening over “extreme temperatures” in Europe.

It is the third so-called electricity margin notice issued by Neso this year, which is more typically sent during cold spells in the winter when more people are heating their homes.

But extreme heat also puts pressure on the electricity system by making processes less efficient, including generation from nuclear power plants, gas stations and water cooling systems, coinciding with people using more electricity for fans and air conditioning to keep cool.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) also flagged the increasing risk of wildfires this week, advising people to avoid using disposable barbecues in open countryside, park and moorlands.

And families, neighbours and carers are being urged to check in on people living with dementia, who can face serious risks from hot weather.

It comes after new analysis by the UKHSA found that 254 of the 1,504 heat-associated deaths in England during last summer were thought to be linked to dementia, accounting for around one in six of all heat-associated deaths.

Alzheimer’s Society said the figures highlight the increased risks that hot weather can pose for people living with dementia, who may be less able to recognise when they are thirsty, dehydrated or overheating.

Angelo Makri, senior knowledge officer for wellbeing at the organisation, said: ”As temperatures rise this week, we’re urging families, friends and neighbours to check in on people living with dementia, help them stay hydrated and support them to stay cool, particularly during the hottest parts of the day.”

It all comes after scientists said June 2026 was the hottest June recorded for western Europe and the second warmest globally.

Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Surface, implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), confirmed the record on Thursday.

The experts said much of western Europe is experiencing a record-breaking heatwave and marine heatwaves across the western Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coasts.

The June heatwave hit during the second half of June, only a few weeks after a particularly intense heatwave in May and now another has emerged in early July.

The succession of heatwaves illustrates the growing challenge posed by increasingly frequent and intense heat extremes across Europe and the globe, the organisation said.

Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at ECMWF, said: “June 2026 underscored how profoundly the climate is changing.

“Together, these records reflect a climate system continuing to accumulate heat.

“The result is increasingly intense heatwaves, a persistently warm ocean, and growing risks for people, ecosystems and infrastructure across Europe and beyond.”