England has just had its hottest June on record, Met Office data shows

A woman filling a water bottle at a fountain during the red heat alert in London. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA View image in fullscreen A woman filling a water bottle at a fountain during the red heat alert in London. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA England has just had its hottest June on record, Met Office data shows Chief scientist says dangerous heatwaves, which are getting more likely, ‘bring home the implications of climate change’ The month of June was the warmest in England on record, driven by a searing heatwave in the final days of the month, which for the first time had red heat alerts for three days, according to Met Office data. The Met Office said provisional statistics showed Wales and the UK as a whole had recorded their second-warmest June since 1884. Dr Emily Carlisle, a Met Office scientist, said: “June’s high temperatures are part of a broader pattern of warmth during 2026. “So far, five of the first six months of the year have recorded mean temperatures at least 1C above average, with only January seeing below-average temperatures.” The heat in June was preceeded by the warmest spring on record for England and Wales , and the third-warmest for the UK. In May the Met office said one of the most striking values was recorded at Kew Gardens in Greater London, where temperatures reached 35.1C, exceeding its previous station record of 29.3C and the previous UK May record of 32.8C. View image in fullscreen Workers taking a break in the heat in London during the red heat alert. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images “This reflects the exceptional nature of the heat, with values more typical of mid-summer being observed in late spring,” the Met office said. The record-breaking temperatures in the second half of June were notable for exceptionally warm nights, with frequent “tropical nights”, during which the thermometer did not drop below 20C. skip past newsletter promotion after newsletter promotion European heatwave is worst ever and impossible without climate crisis, scientists say Read more June 2026’s minimum temperature was more than 2C above average across the UK, while England recorded overnight temperatures 2.6C above average. Prof Stephen Belcher CBE, the Met Office chief scientist, said: “June’s heatwave was a significant weather event, with a red extreme heat warning issued. Human-induced climate change has made events like this more likely and more intense. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply.” View image in fullscreen Care home staff handing cold drinks to residents during the extreme heat. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA June was the first time since extreme heat warnings were introduced to the weather warnings system in 2021, that a red warning for extreme heat w