UK Records Hottest June Day Ever at 36.4C in Somerset
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- The UK broke its June temperature record on back-to-back days, reaching 36.1C in Hampshire on Wednesday before hitting 36.4C in Somerset on Thursday.
- The Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for south of England through Friday and warned the heat could cause "population-wide adverse health effects," including serious illness or danger to life.
- The Royal College of Physicians reported increased hospital pressure, with older patients collapsing from dehydration and medical machines malfunctioning due to the extreme heat.
- Hundreds of schools across the UK were forced to close early as temperatures continued to grip the country.
- South Western Railway, Thameslink, Northern and Avanti West Coast asked passengers to make only essential journeys and implemented reduced timetables amid widespread delays.
- Transport for London warned that "very high temperatures" might cause disruption to Tube and rail services.
Why it matters: The UK shattered its June temperature record on consecutive days — 36.1C in Hampshire and 36.4C in Somerset — forcing hundreds of school closures, reduced rail timetables, and a rare red weather warning through Friday. The Met Office's warning of "population-wide adverse health effects" came alongside reports of hospital equipment failing and elderly patients collapsing from dehydration, exposing how exposed UK infrastructure is to extreme heat.
