Britain sweltered through its hottest June day on record on Thursday as temperatures hit 36.4C in Somerset – a record that was broken twice in the same week. The previous high of 36.1C had been set just a day earlier in Hampshire, while the provisional June record was later pushed to 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset. Wales also saw its hottest June day, with 35.6C recorded in Cardiff’s Bute Park, and Scotland reached 31.2C in Threave.
With a rare red weather warning in place until Friday for the south of England, hundreds of schools closed early and transport faced significant disruption, with train passengers advised to avoid all non-essential travel. Some hospitals declared critical incidents, and South East Water announced a hosepipe ban in Kent, asking customers to adhere to it “immediately”.
“UK records hottest June day at 36.4C as red warning extended; schools close, hospitals declare critical incidents.”
Last night, the UK endured its warmest June night on record, as provisional temperatures in Cardiff did not fall below 23.5C. The Met Office predicts temperatures could climb further, with highs of at least 38C possible on Friday.
As the country baked, over 40 sheep were freed from their heavy fleeces at a farm in Llannefydd, Wales, having roughly 4kg of wool sheared off each of them. The animals were captured on video jumping for joy after their shearing.
Meanwhile, pharmacists issued a stark warning to users of weight-loss medications such as Mounjaro and Wegovy. Ian Budd, lead prescribing pharmacist at Chemist4U, said the treatment is rendered ineffective above 30C. “When it comes to heat damage, an overheated pen can look completely normal,” he said. “You can’t always rely on a visual check.” He advised storing pens in a cool place, such as a fridge, before leaving the house. NHS weight-loss pharmacist Peter Thnoia added: “If the medication freezes, it should not be used, even after thawing, so make sure your temperature settings aren’t too low.”
The red weather warning, extended until 21:00 on Friday, marks the first time such warnings have been in place for three successive days.