2 weeks ago
UK hits 38.1°C, hottest 2026 day, amid European heatwave
Britain and France are having a spell of super hot weather called a heatwave.
On Thursday, Britain had its hottest day of the year, reaching 38.1°C in west London.
That is extremely hot, and it can make people feel dizzy, sick, or very tired.
France was even hotter in some places, with temperatures close to 41°C.
The hot, dry weather dries out the ground, hurts crops, and lowers water in rivers.
Dry ground can easily catch fire, and many wildfires have started, including in England and Greece.
More than 300 people in Greece had to be rescued by boats when a fire spread near the sea.
Nurses in some hospitals have fainted because the buildings are not built to stay cool.
Because water is running low, a company called Southern Water has asked to stop some businesses from washing cars and filling pools.
The hottest weather is expected to move away on Friday, and things should cool down by the weekend.
Britain recorded its hottest day of 2026 on Thursday, reaching 38.1°C (100.6°F) in west London, slightly above the previous 2026 high of 38°C set on June 28.
France endured its fifth heatwave of the year too, with temperatures approaching 41°C in areas from Aquitaine to the Rhône River valley.
Multiple wildfires in England's West Midlands burned houses, sending a child and three firefighters to hospital, and 1,017 fires have been recorded in England and Wales this year.
In northern Greece, more than 300 residents and vacationers were evacuated by sea after a wildfire threatened the Siviri resort on the Halkidiki peninsula.
Southern Water applied for an emergency drought order to restrict nonessential business water use — the first such measure since 2006 — while Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged extra firefighting resources.
- Who
- The United Kingdom and France are enduring the heatwave, along with northern Greece; officials and bodies involved include the Met Office, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, West Midlands mayor Richard Parker, the Royal College of Nursing, Southern Water and the National Fire Chiefs Council.
- What
- An intense heatwave brought the UK's hottest day of 2026 (38.1°C) and near-41°C temperatures in France, worsening drought, straining water supplies and fueling wildfires across Europe.
- Where
- West London, the West Midlands and the New Forest in Britain, areas from Aquitaine to the Rhône River valley in France, and the Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece.
- When
- Thursday, August 13, 2026, when the UK recorded its hottest day of the year; the heat is expected to move eastward on Friday and ease over the weekend.
- Why
- Prolonged extreme heat — described as historic and a result of human-caused climate change — is intensifying drought, damaging crops, draining rivers and increasing wildfire danger across Europe.
Key facts
- UK highest temperature 2026
- 38.1°C (100.6°F) in west London
- Previous 2026 UK high
- 38°C on June 28
- UK heatwaves in 2026
- 5, with the first in May
- Days at or above 36°C in UK
- 4, a record for the country
- France temperatures
- Approaching 41°C from Aquitaine to the Rhône River valley
- Wildfires in England and Wales
- 1,017 this year, matching last year's record total
- Greece wildfire evacuation
- More than 300 evacuated by sea near Halkidiki's Siviri resort; no injuries reported
- Southern Water drought order
- First ban on nonessential business water use since 2006; decision rests with Environment Secretary Angela Eagle
Quotes
Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill
Head of the West Midlands fire service
“The wildfires across the West Midlands, which saw several houses burned to the ground, have been “one of the most significant” incidents the region’s fire service has ever dealt with.”
deccanchronicle.com
Nicola Ranger
Chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing
“"When nursing staff are collapsing, feeling dizzy, sick or even being admitted to the very hospitals they work in because their workplaces cannot handle the heat, it shows just how badly they are being failed."”
deccanchronicle.com
firstpost.com
Sources
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