Record Heatwave Scorches Britain and Europe

A punishing heat dome across western and southern Europe shattered June temperature records, with the UK provisionally recording its hottest June day ever at 36.1°C and France logging its highest temperature since measurements began in 1947.

The UK Met Office extended a rare red extreme heat warning into Friday, while hospitals in England declared critical incidents as MRI scanners failed and cooling systems buckled.

Spain’s health ministry reported at least 212 heat-related deaths since Saturday, and France raised its health alert to the maximum level.

The UN climate chief described the event as a “savage heatwave” that underscored the accelerating impacts of climate change.