UK Records Hottest June Day Ever As Gosport, Hampshire Hits 36.1°C

The UK provisionally recorded its hottest June day on record as temperatures reached 36.1°C in Gosport, Hampshire, as an intense heatwave continued across the country.

“- Published The UK has experienced its hottest June day on record after temperatures soared to 36”

BBC

The Met Office said the 36.1°C reading surpassed the previous June record of 35.6°C set on 28 June 1976 and matched on 29 June 1957, with the heatwave forecast to continue through Thursday and Friday.

BBC

The Hampshire Chronicle reported that the Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat and said the temperature could be “beaten again”.

The BBC said the new record is described as "provisional" by the Met Office, which now has to conduct checks to ensure the measurement is reliable.

The Hampshire Chronicle said red warnings for extreme heat were issued for an area from London and the south coast to Swansea, Somerset and Birmingham until late on Thursday, with the forecaster warning that “significant disruption to daily life is likely”.

The BBC reported that hundreds of schools shut across England and Wales and that train passengers were advised to avoid all non-essential travel as the heatwave forecast continued into Thursday and Friday.

Daily Echo

The Hampshire Chronicle added that at least 1,000 schools and nurseries would either be closed or partially closed in England and Wales on Thursday and Friday, while Network Rail advised passengers to only travel if “absolutely necessary” on Thursday and Friday.

In Wales, Wales 247 said the Met Office warned temperatures could climb even higher over the coming days, and that the organisation would carry out a detailed verification process including site inspections and checks of the equipment used to measure temperatures.

Met Office Science Manager Amy Doherty said: “If confirmed, a new June daily temperature record would be significant, especially following on the heels of the recent records set in May.”

“The heatwave brought record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday, with forecasters warning they could rise even higher”

Hampshire Chronicle

Doherty added that “The new record provides further evidence that temperatures previously considered extreme are becoming increasingly common as a result of human-induced climate change.”

The Independent said temperatures were anticipated to peak at approximately 38C on Thursday and Friday, potentially reaching even higher in some areas, as a 'heat-dome' over western Europe contributed to the extreme conditions.

The Hampshire Chronicle quoted Professor Stephen Belcher, the Met Office’s chief scientist, saying it is “sobering” to see temperatures as high as this in June, and noted that figures are currently provisional and would be verified at the end of the heatwave to check if it is a new national record.