UK records hottest day of the year as temperatures soar to 38.1C

The UK has experienced its hottest day of 2026 so far, with temperatures reaching 38.1C at Kew Gardens in west London as a major heatwave grips much of the country.

The temperature, recorded on Thursday, provisionally makes it the fifth hottest day ever recorded in the UK and marks another extraordinary milestone in what is becoming a summer of extreme weather.

The previous highest temperature of the year was 38C, recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on 26 June.

The latest heatwave is the fifth to affect the UK this year, with forecasters warning that the summer of 2026 could be on course to become the hottest since records began.

Temperatures soar across England

Kew Gardens recorded the highest temperature in England on Thursday, but other areas also experienced exceptional heat.

Charlwood in Surrey and Pershore in Worcestershire both reached 37.8C, while Wisley recorded temperatures of 37.2C.

The extreme conditions mean 2026 has become the first year on record to experience three separate days with temperatures reaching 37C or higher.

Only four days in UK history have recorded higher temperatures.

The UK's all-time record remains 40.3C, recorded at Coningsby in Lincolnshire on 19 July 2022. It remains the only occasion on which temperatures in the UK have exceeded 40C.

Amber heat alerts remain in place

An amber heat health alert remains in force across the whole of England until 21:00 BST on Friday.

The warning highlights the potential for significant impacts on health and social care services, particularly among older people, vulnerable individuals and those with existing health conditions.

Extreme heat warnings are also affecting a large area of England, stretching from London towards Sheffield and covering parts of Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire.

Wales has also experienced exceptionally high temperatures, with some areas forecast to reach 35C.

The country is already facing drought conditions across Wales.

Drought, water restrictions and wildfires

The heatwave comes as large parts of England and Wales continue to struggle with drought.

Almost three-quarters of England, representing around 45 million people, are living in drought conditions.

More than 27 million people are currently facing water-use restrictions, including hosepipe bans.

The prolonged dry weather has also created dangerous conditions for wildfires.

A total of 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales so far this year, matching the previous annual record.

In the New Forest, Hampshire, around 130 firefighters were deployed on Thursday to tackle a major wildfire affecting an area estimated to be roughly the size of 230 football pitches.

Pressure on water supplies

The extreme weather is also placing further pressure on already stretched water networks.

Thousands of homes in east London and Essex have continued to experience water outages or low water pressure following a series of burst pipes.

The disruption has lasted for almost a week in some areas, with efforts continuing to restore normal supplies.

Heat adds pressure to the NHS

The heatwave is also having a major impact on the health service.

Emergency departments in England recorded their busiest period on record in July, with 2.49 million people attending A&E departments.

Record-breaking temperatures were cited as one of the factors placing additional pressure on hospitals and emergency services.

Preliminary figures have also suggested that more than 2,800 heat-related deaths occurred during May and June, almost double the figure recorded during the same period last year.

Healthcare workers have described the extreme conditions as physically exhausting, with ambulance and hospital staff working in intense temperatures.

The government has acknowledged that periods of extreme heat are placing an increasing burden on the NHS, raising concerns about the need for health services to prepare for summer pressures in the same way they prepare for winter.

Cooler weather on the way

The most extreme temperatures are now believed to have peaked.

Temperatures across parts of the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England are expected to fall to between 30C and 34C on Friday, before dropping further over the weekend.

By Sunday, temperatures in many areas could fall closer to 26C.

However, the latest heatwave has once again highlighted the increasingly extreme weather conditions affecting the UK.

From record-breaking temperatures and drought to water shortages and major wildfires, the summer of 2026 is becoming one of the most remarkable and challenging in recent British history.

The record books may show 38.1C as just another number — but for millions dealing with drought, water restrictions, pressure on public services and dangerous heat, the impact of this extraordinary summer is being felt far beyond the thermometer.