The record books have been shattered: Thursday's sizzling high of 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset, has obliterated the previous June heat record by a whisker – just 0.6C shy of the old mark.
This scorching day has seen every corner of the UK scorch with its highest temperature of the year so far: Wales reached a sweltering 35.6C in Bute Park, Cardiff (outstripping its previous record from 2000), Scotland hit 31.2C at Threave in Dumfries and Galloway, while Northern Ireland boiled over at 30C in Castlederg.
Millions are now under a rare red heat warning for London and parts of south-eastern England – a danger to life signal that previously covered southern, central, and western areas of England and parts of Wales. Amber warnings remain active across the UK's western edge, with temperatures expected to soar above 30C as far north as Manchester.
Climate experts say the 'heat dome' phenomenon is exacerbating these conditions – a stubborn area of high pressure that's trapping heat over western Europe. Dr Akshay Deoras from the University of Reading stresses that climate change is intensifying extreme temperatures, making them more severe than in the past. Met Office data shows that between 2015 and 2024, the number of days above 30C in the UK trebled compared to the 1961-1990 average.
As the mercury rises, the public is urged to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity during peak sun hours, and find shade when necessary. The Met Office has issued stark warnings about potential population-wide health risks, disruption to daily routines, and power failures due to heat-sensitive systems – a grim reminder of the dangers posed by this extreme weather event.
While Friday may still be hot for many areas, Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to escape the worst of it as the heat wave moves east. Overnight lows will remain stubbornly high across much of the UK, with temperatures in some regions not dipping below 22C or even 23C by morning.