The United Kingdom experienced its hottest day of the year on Thursday, with temperatures soaring to a provisional 38.1C at Kew Gardens in west London. This reading marks the fifth heatwave to affect the country this year and is the fifth hottest day on record, according to the Met Office. The current spell of extreme heat is leading the Met Office to predict that this summer could be the hottest since records began.

An amber heat health alert remains in effect across all of England until Friday evening. This warning signifies potential significant negative impacts on health and social care services, highlighting the public health concern associated with the prolonged high temperatures. The Met Office has indicated that the peak of the heatwave in England may have passed, with expectations of cooler, though still warm, temperatures in the coming days.

The 38.1C recorded at Kew Gardens surpassed the previous high of 38C set on June 26th. Other locations also saw extreme heat, with Charlwood in Surrey and Pershore in Worcestershire reaching 37.8C, and Wisley recording 37.2C. The intense conditions have led to unusual situations, such as a pub manager in Pershore noting that the outside heat was unbearable, with the pub's kitchen reaching 36C.

This year, 2026, has become the first on record to experience three separate days where temperatures have reached or exceeded the 37C threshold. This trend underscores the increasing frequency and intensity of heat events. The Met Office data shows that only four days in UK history have recorded higher temperatures than Thursday's peak.

The all-time highest temperature recorded in the UK was 40.3C on July 19, 2022, at Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Prior to that, the record stood at 38.7C, measured in Cambridge Botanic Gardens on July 25, 2019. Other notable high temperatures include 38.5C in Faversham, Kent, on August 10, 2003, and 38.2C at Pitsford, Northamptonshire, on July 18, 2022.

Amber warnings for extreme heat cover a significant portion of England, stretching from London to Sheffield, and extending into the South West and western regions. In Wales, temperatures are forecast to reach 35C, with a drought already declared across the entire country. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland is under a yellow thunderstorm warning until Friday morning, and Scotland is expected to see rain.

The prolonged dry and hot conditions have led to widespread water restrictions. Over 27 million people are now subject to water use limitations, including hosepipe bans. This situation is exacerbated by ongoing water outages and low pressure affecting thousands of homes in east London and Essex, following pipe bursts nearly a week ago. Thames Water has apologized and aims to restore supplies by Friday.

The extreme heat is also having a direct impact on public services, with A&E departments in England reportedly facing challenges due to the heat. The combination of high temperatures, drought conditions, and infrastructure issues presents a multifaceted crisis across the country.