UK sees hottest June day on record as 36.1C recorded in Hampshire

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: UK sees hottest June day on record as 36. 1C recorded in Hampshire Figure caption, 'No let up' - The people working in extreme heatByElla Kipling and Anna LamchePublished24 June 2026, 18:28 BSTUpdated 1 hour agoThe UK has experienced its hottest June day on record after temperatures soared to 36. 1C (97F) in Gosport, Hampshire on Wednesday afternoon.

Hundreds of schools shut across England and Wales and transport has also been disrupted, with train passengers advised to avoid all non-essential travel. The heatwave is forecast to continue into Thursday and Friday, with a further high of about 38C possible, the Met Office said. A red extreme heat warning issued by the Met Office across parts of south and central England and south Wales remains in place until 23:59 BST on Thursday.

The Details

The high for the day came between 15:00 and 16:00 BST - breaking the previous June record of 35. 6C recorded in Southampton in 1976 and Camden in 1957. This new record is described as "provisional" by the Met Office, which now has to conduct checks to ensure the measurement is reliable.

The next highest temperatures of the day were all recorded in southern England, including Wisley, Surrey on 36C, Wiggonholt, West Sussex on 35. And Wales had its hottest day of the year so far, with a high of 33. 3C at Cardiff Bute Park.

Meanwhile, a searing European heatwave continues to cause deaths and disruption, - with France recording its hottest day since records began in 1947, and the temperature in Paris and other areas above 40C. Among the areas covered by the UK red warning are the East Midlands, the east of England, London and south-east England, south-west England, Wales and the West Midlands. These regions can expect an "exceptional spell of hot and humid weather" with impacts to the general population "highly likely", according to the Met Office.

What Experts Say

It is only the second time a red warning has been issued since extreme heat warnings began in 2021. Image source, EPAImage caption, June temperature records set in 1976 and 1957 were brokenA wider amber warning covers much of England and Wales through Thursday,, external with areas as far north as Manchester expected to see temperatures reach above 30C. A separate amber warning for extreme heat, lasting from midnight on Friday, external until 23:59 covers south-east England, eastern England and parts of the Midlands.

And a new amber weather warning has been issued, external for between 00:00 and 21:00 on Saturday, covering parts of southern and eastern England. The daily air temperature record for the UK in June is 35. 6C, which was reached on 28 June 1976 - but this is very likely to be exceeded in the coming days.

The "feels like" temperature, which indicates how people will experience the heat, is likely to reach more than 40C in parts of England.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.