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, during an ongoing period of intense heat across Europe. The Met Office confirmed that this surpassed the previous peak of 38 degrees Celsius recorded on June 26, although it fell short of the UK’s August record of 38.5 degrees Celsius set in 2003.
Both Britain and France are currently in the midst of their fifth heatwave this year, with the first one occurring in May. The recent heatwave in 2026 has marked a record of four days with temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius, matching the number of days in 2022 that reached 38 degrees Celsius.
In France, temperatures have climbed 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 most intense heat is anticipated to shift eastward away from both Britain and France on Friday, gradually diminishing over the weekend.
The scorching summer conditions have highlighted the lack of preparedness in both countries to handle such extreme heat. Air conditioning is a rarity outside of commercial establishments and offices. In the UK, nurses have faced heat exhaustion while working in hospitals, many of which are housed in aged buildings lacking adequate cooling systems, as stated by the Royal College of Nursing.
The dry spell affecting many parts of Europe has led to widespread droughts, impacting crops and water levels in rivers. Southern Water in Britain has applied for a rare drought order to restrict non-essential water usage, citing an exceptional lack of rainfall threatening supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will make the decision on this application, potentially the first ban of its kind since May 2006.
With the parched land and no significant rainfall in sight, authorities in Britain and France are on high alert for wildfires. Firefighters in Britain have been battling a wildfire in the New Forest in southern England, with a total of 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 to prevent further wildfires amid the ongoing heatwave. He emphasized the need to discourage outdoor barbecue use during this period to mitigate the risk of fires.
French firefighters are also facing challenges, with demands for additional staff and resources to cope with extreme weather events. Recent fires in northern France have underscored the urgency of bolstering firefighting capabilities to address the escalating threat posed by these environmental conditions.