The United Kingdom registered its highest temperature of the year on Thursday, hitting 38.1 degrees Celsius in west London, according to the national weather service, amid a prolonged period of hot weather across Europe.
The Met Office confirmed that the temperature exceeded the previous 2026 peak of 38 degrees Celsius recorded in June. However, it fell short of the UK’s August record of 38.5 degrees Celsius set in 2003.
Both Britain and France are currently undergoing their fifth heatwave of the year, with the first one occurring in May. This latest heatwave has resulted in 2026 experiencing a record four days with temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius or higher, matching the two days in 2022 when temperatures hit 38 degrees Celsius.
In France, temperatures have soared even higher, nearing 41 degrees Celsius in various regions, from Aquitaine in the southwest to the Rhone River valley in the east, as reported by the national weather service.
The extreme heat is anticipated to shift eastward away from the UK and France on Friday, gradually easing over the weekend.
Both countries are facing challenges in dealing with the extreme heat, with air conditioning being a rarity outside of commercial establishments. In the UK, healthcare workers have suffered from heat exhaustion while working in hospitals, many of which lack sufficient cooling systems due to their outdated infrastructure, as highlighted by the Royal College of Nursing.
Similar to other parts of Europe, Britain and France are grappling with widespread drought conditions, leading to crop failure and depleted water sources for households, agriculture, and the environment.
Southern Water, responsible for water supplies in southern England, has requested a rare drought order to restrict non-essential water usage by businesses, citing an unprecedented lack of rainfall jeopardizing water availability in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
With dry conditions prevailing and no significant rainfall in sight, authorities in both countries are on high alert for wildfires. In the UK, firefighters have been battling a blaze in the New Forest in southern England, while England and Wales have already recorded 1,017 wildfires this year, matching last year’s record.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering a ban on disposable barbecues to mitigate the risk of wildfires amid the ongoing heatwave.
Meanwhile, French firefighters are facing increasing challenges and are contemplating strike action to demand additional personnel and resources to cope with the escalating frequency of extreme weather events, as witnessed by recent wildfires across the country.
