UK sets provisional June temperature record at 36.7°C for second consecutive day
The Met Office confirmed Merryfield in Somerset provisionally broke its own record set 24 hours earlier; Wales and Northern Ireland also set national June highs as a heat dome covers Western Europe
Summary
The Met Office provisionally confirmed that Merryfield, Somerset, recorded 36.7°C on June 25, setting a new UK June maximum temperature record for the second consecutive day after RAF Yeovilton hit 36.4°C on June 24. Wales recorded a June national high of 35.9°C at Cardiff Airport and Northern Ireland 30.8°C at Castlederg, both also national June records. The heat dome covers most of Western Europe; France has recorded more than 50 heat-related deaths this week, and French nuclear capacity is under cooling-water pressure.
Why it matters
June records broken on back-to-back days indicate that the UK climate envelope is shifting faster than seasonal models projected. NHS England and Wales activated its heat health alert plan; national grid peak demand has exceeded summer planning assumptions. The same ridge driving UK temperatures is stressing French nuclear output, creating cross-border electricity supply pressure.
What to watch
- Met Office final confirmation of records (provisional status pending instrument checks).
- NHS heat-related hospital admissions data for June 25-26.
- Whether temperatures hold above 35°C on June 26 or the Atlantic low breaks the ridge.