The United Kingdom experienced its highest temperature of the year on Thursday, hitting 38.1 degrees Celsius in west London, according to the national weather service, amidst a prolonged period of hot weather across Europe. The Met Office confirmed that this temperature exceeded the previous high of 38 degrees Celsius recorded on June 26 but remained below the UK’s August record of 38.5 degrees Celsius set in 2003.
Both Britain and France are currently enduring their fifth heatwave this year, with the first one occurring in May. In 2026, there have been a total of four days with temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius, matching the record set in 2022 with two days reaching 38 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, France has experienced even higher temperatures, nearing 41 degrees Celsius in various regions from Aquitaine in the southwest to the Rhone River valley in the east. The intense heat is expected to shift eastwards away from the UK and France on Friday, diminishing over the weekend.
The ongoing summer heatwaves have exposed the lack of preparedness in both Britain and France to handle such extreme heat conditions. Air conditioning remains scarce outside of commercial establishments and offices. Nurses in the UK have suffered from heat exhaustion due to working in hospitals housed in older buildings without proper cooling facilities, as reported by the Royal College of Nursing.
The prolonged heat and drought conditions in Europe have led to crop failures, dried-up rivers, and increased pressure on water resources for households, agriculture, and the environment. Southern Water in England has requested a rare drought order to restrict non-essential water use in response to the exceptional lack of rainfall threatening supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
With the dry conditions persisting and no significant rainfall in sight, authorities in both Britain and France are on high alert for potential wildfires. Firefighters have been battling wildfires in various regions, and the UK has seen 1,017 wildfires recorded in England and Wales this year, matching last year’s record.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering a ban on disposable barbecues due to the heightened risk of wildfires. He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about refraining from using barbecues outdoors during this period of extreme heat.
In France, firefighters are facing challenges after a challenging summer and are contemplating a strike to demand additional personnel and resources to cope with the escalating frequency of extreme weather events. Recent fires in different regions have underscored the need for enhanced firefighting capabilities to combat wildfires effectively.
