England has just endured its hottest June since records began in 1884, with a provisional mean temperature of 17.1°C – nearly 3°C above the long-term average and surpassing the previous record set in 2025. The record comes as a yellow heat health alert has been issued for large parts of the UK, warning that vulnerable people face a greater risk to life.
The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), covers the East Midlands, east, southwest and southeast England – including London – from 12pm on Saturday July 4 until 5pm on Wednesday July 8. Minor impacts are expected, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and a potential rise in water-related incidents such as cold water shock and drowning.
“Yellow heat health alert issued as England records hottest June on record with mean temperature 17.1°C.”
Last week’s heatwave saw the UK’s highest June temperature ever recorded: 37.7°C on Friday June 26 in Lingwood, Norfolk, beating the 37.3°C measured at Santon Downham in Suffolk on the same day. That previous UK June record of 35.6°C, dating back to 1976, was surpassed by more than 2°C – a margin far wider than the usual fraction of a degree.
The Met Office has warned that another heatwave is “increasingly likely” within the next 30 days. Weather maps from Net Weather show extreme highs next week, with London expected to reach 39°C on Thursday July 9. Should that happen, further records will be broken. The capital and nearby Berkshire are forecast for 39°C, Hertfordshire 38°C, Gloucestershire 38°C, and Cheshire 35°C.
Tony Wisson, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: “Toward the weekend, high pressure will continue to build in across most of the UK as it extends from the Azores. This will lead to more settled, warm or very warm conditions for many, especially across England and Wales.” He added that while a return to heatwave conditions is increasingly likely, the likelihood of such extreme temperatures or high humidity as last week is currently low.
Across the UK, June 2026 provisionally ranks as the second-warmest June on record, behind only June 2023. Wales recorded its second warmest, while Scotland and Northern Ireland saw joint fourth warmest. The Met Office noted that “exceptionally warm overnight temperatures” during the recent heatwave drove the highest average minimum temperatures on record for the UK, England and Wales.
The UKHSA said the upcoming hot spell could affect health and social care services, after many services declared critical incidents during the previous spell of hot weather.