The United Kingdom logged its highest temperature of the year on Thursday, hitting 38.1 degrees Celsius in western London, according to the national weather service, amidst a persistent heatwave across Europe. The Met Office reported that this surpassed the previous 2026 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 facing their fifth heatwave of the year, with the first one occurring in May. The recent intense heat has resulted in a record number of four days in 2026 with temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius. Additionally, there have been two days in 2026 where temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius, matching the record from 2022.
Meanwhile, temperatures in France 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 peak of the extreme heat is predicted to move eastward away from Britain and France by Friday and gradually diminish over the weekend.
This summer has highlighted the lack of infrastructure in both Britain and France to cope with such high temperatures. Air conditioning is scarce outside of commercial establishments and offices. In the UK, healthcare workers have experienced heat-related issues, with nurses collapsing from heat exhaustion due to inadequate cooling in aging hospital buildings, as stated by the Royal College of Nursing.
The dry conditions across Europe have led to widespread droughts, causing crops to wither and rivers to dry up, intensifying the strain on water supplies for households, farming, and the environment. Southern Water in Britain, responsible for water distribution in the southern part of the country, has requested a rare drought order to restrict non-essential water usage by businesses, citing an unprecedented lack of rainfall jeopardizing supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
With parched land and no significant rain in sight, authorities in both Britain and France are on high alert for wildfires. In the UK, firefighters are battling a wildfire in the New Forest in southern England. England and Wales have recorded 1,017 wildfires this year, matching last year’s record, emphasizing the need for the UK to adapt to the changing climate.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is contemplating a ban on disposable barbecues to mitigate the risk of wildfires amid the ongoing heatwave. He emphasized the importance of raising awareness that using barbecues outdoors is not advisable currently.
French firefighters are also facing challenges, with demands for more personnel and resources to handle the escalating extreme weather incidents. Recent wildfires in France, including those in Pas-de-Calais and Brittany, have exacerbated the situation, with a significant fire near Bordeaux displacing a large number of residents last month.