Met Office Says England Recorded Warmest June Since 1884 After Record-Breaking Heatwave

England recorded its warmest June since records began in 1884, with the Met Office saying the month was driven by an intense and record-breaking heatwave at the end of the month.

“Last month was provisionally the warmest June in England since records began, as well as the second-warmest for the United Kingdom, according to figures published by the country’s Met Office”

Al Jazeera

The Met Office said England registered an average temperature of 17.1C last month compared to 16.9C in June 2025, and it described “exceptionally warm overnight temperatures” as part of the pattern.

Al Jazeera

A peak of 37.7C was provisionally reached at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 26, and the BBC said this smashed the previous June high of 35.6C set in 1957 and equalled in the 1976 heatwave.

The BBC also reported that a rare red extreme heat warning was issued for parts of England and Wales, with eastern England areas seeing it remain in force for an unprecedented three day-run.

The BBC said June mean temperatures reached 17.1C, nearly 3C above average, and it linked the rise to frequent tropical nights, in which temperatures fall no lower than 20C.

In the same period, the Met Office said the heatwave disrupted Britain’s transport network, schools and hospitals, and the eNCA report noted rare extreme heat warnings were issued for several days last month.

BBC

The BBC added that Wales recorded their hottest June day with 35.9C in Cardiff on Thursday 25 June, beating the previous mark of 33.7C.

Beyond the UK, the BBC said France had its hottest ever day on record as temperatures across the country averaged over a 24 hour period reached 30C for the first time.

Scientists cited by the Met Office and reported by eNCA said climate change was “unequivocally” responsible for the intensity of the heatwave, with the World Weather Attribution group adding that such exceptional temperatures in June would have been “virtually impossible” 50 years ago.

“LONDON - England chalked up its warmest June since records began in 1884, the United Kingdom's weather agency said on Wednesday, after a month that saw temperatures soar to new highs”

eNCA

The BBC said the UK’s highest June temperature on record of 37.7C was set on Friday 26 June 2026 at Lingwood, Norfolk, and it described the event as a “slew of June records” following the May heatwave.

In its account of the human toll, the BBC reported that France’s national health ministry had reported around 1000 excess deaths, while Spain has recorded 1029 excess deaths attributable to the extreme heat.

The BBC also said heatwaves are becoming more frequent and more extreme due to climate heating, noting that Spanish forecasters said of the 12 June heatwaves recorded in Spain since 1975, half have occurred in the last decade.