England’s warmest June on record down to record-breaking heatwave
England experienced its warmest June on record, with average temperatures reaching 17.1°C, nearly three degrees above the seasonal norm. Persistent overnight warmth—with tropical nights where temperatures remained above 20°C—substantially contributed to the elevated monthly average. Norfolk recorded the nation's highest June temperature of 37.7°C on 26 June, decisively breaking the previous record of 35.6°C from 1957. Wales and Northern Ireland similarly marked significant heat milestones, with Cardiff reaching 35.9°C and County Tyrone equalling its June record.
The extreme conditions spread across much of Europe, prompting new June temperature records across multiple nations including Hungary, Austria, and Denmark, whilst France recorded its highest temperature ever measured. The human toll included approximately 1000 excess deaths attributed to the heat in France and 1029 in Spain, substantially lower than the 2003 heatwave's estimated 30,000–70,000 fatalities. Forecasters observe that extreme June heatwaves are becoming progressively more frequent, with half of Spain's twelve recorded episodes since 1975 occurring within the last ten years, a pattern attributed to ongoing climate warming.
- England's June 2026 was its warmest on record with temperatures peaking at 37.7°C, surpassing the previous June record by over 2°C, whilst Wales and Northern Ireland also set notable heat records
- The continental European heatwave caused approximately 1000 excess deaths in France and over 1000 in Spain, though substantially fewer than the 2003 event which killed 30,000–70,000 people
- Meteorologists link the escalating frequency and intensity of such extreme heat to climate warming, noting that half of Spain's June heatwaves since 1975 have occurred within the past decade