Global Heatwave Shatters Records

A brutal and expansive heatwave gripping western and southern Europe toppled multiple national temperature records on Wednesday.

The United Kingdom recorded a provisional June high of 36.1 degrees Celsius at Gosport, exceeding the 50-year-old record of 35.6 degrees Celsius set in 1976.

In France, authorities confirmed the country’s highest temperature since records began in 1947, with dozens of heat-related deaths and hospitalizations for heatstroke.

The UK Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat, leading to the closure of over 1,200 schools on Thursday, while infrastructure strain hit transport networks, including the London Underground where temperatures reached 39.4 degrees Celsius.