1 July 2026
UKHSA estimates 2,877 deaths in May and June heatwaves
The UK Health Security Agency estimated that 2,877 people died in the May and June heatwaves, almost double the figure recorded across the whole of summer 2025.
Heatwaves news
We cover news from public bodies and utility companies for UK households on power cuts, weather, water, health, safety and security. Each report includes the date and sources, with links to our guides.
July 2026
June 2026
28 June 2026
June heatwave drives record 999 call volume in London
London Ambulance Service says the week of 22 to 28 June brought a record 53,342 calls to 999 and its highest number of Category 1 incidents, as heat and alcohol drove demand.
26 June 2026
South Central Ambulance Service declares major incident during heatwave
South Central Ambulance Service declared a major incident at 20:00 on 26 June 2026 because of continued pressure during the heatwave, and stood it down at 11:40 on 28 June, returning to a critical…
26 June 2026
New UK June maximum temperature record of 38.0°C at Lingwood, Norfolk
The Met Office reports a new UK and England June maximum temperature record of 38.0°C at Lingwood in Norfolk on 26 June 2026, part of a heatwave that brought three consecutive days of red heat…
25 June 2026
South East Water announces temporary use ban for Kent
South East Water announced a temporary use ban for Kent on 25 June 2026, in force from 00:01 on 3 July 2026, after demand peaked at 687 million litres a day.
24 June 2026
Amber heat warning issued for Carmarthenshire
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for extreme heat for Carmarthenshire, in place from Wednesday 24 June until midnight on Thursday 25 June 2026, the county council says.
24 June 2026
Amber heat-health alert issued for the North West
NHS Greater Manchester and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust urged residents to take care in the heat, watch for signs of heat illness and check on vulnerable people while an amber heat-health alert was…
24 June 2026
Water demand peaks at 687 million litres a day
South East Water says demand on its network peaked at 687 million litres a day on 24 June 2026, nearly 100 million litres above the June average, as hosepipe restrictions apply across all its supply…
24 June 2026
Welsh Government activates response coordination arrangements for severe heat
The Welsh Government has activated its response coordination arrangements to monitor and manage the impacts of severe heat, as a rare Red warning for extreme heat covers parts of Wales on Wednesday…
23 June 2026
Public Health Scotland issues hot weather advice as Scotland set for hot weather
Public Health Scotland has published guidance on keeping well in hot weather, warning that some people are more at risk, as Scotland is set to experience hot weather this week.
23 June 2026
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service issues heatwave safety guidance during amber and red warnings
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has issued heatwave safety guidance covering open water, driving, the home and wildfire risk, as parts of Devon and Somerset sit under amber and red extreme…
22 June 2026
Amber heat alerts in place across Staffordshire with red alerts in surrounding areas
Staffordshire County Council has urged residents to take care in extreme heat, with amber heat alerts across the county, red alerts in surrounding areas and temperatures expected to reach 39 °C.
22 June 2026
Busiest day in London Ambulance Service history recorded on 26 June
London Ambulance Service has said 26 June was the busiest day in its history, with 8,869 emergency calls as extreme heat drove record demand across the capital.
22 June 2026
South East Water asks customers to use water for essential purposes only during heatwave
South East Water has asked customers to use water only for hygiene, drinking and cooking and to pause all hose use, after demand reached 644 million litres on 21 June during a forecast heatwave.
18 June 2026
Amber heat health alert issued for the South West
An amber heat health alert with a matrix score of 12 is in effect across the South West from midday on 18 June until 8pm on 23 June 2026, with significant impacts likely for health and social care.
17 June 2026
Yellow Heat-Health Alert issued for parts of England
The UK Health Security Agency issued a Yellow Heat-Health Alert for the East Midlands, East of England, London and the southeast of England from Wednesday 17 June until Monday, as temperatures were…
3 June 2026
Warmer-than-normal summer forecast with more heatwaves likely
BBC News reported on 3 June 2026 that more heatwaves are likely as a warmer-than-normal summer is forecast for the UK, with the report updated on 10 June 2026.
1 June 2026
Heatwave at end of June pushed NWAS 999 calls to New Year's Eve levels
North West Ambulance Service says 999 calls during the late June heatwave reached levels normally seen only on New Year's Eve, with more than 30,000 emergency calls in one week.
1 June 2026
Heatwave drove 118% regional rise in 999-directed defibrillator collections
South Central Ambulance Service reports that 999 call takers directed people to collect nearby defibrillators 118% more often in the South Central region during the late June heatwave, against a 31%…
1 June 2026
Heatwave conditions forecast for parts of the UK
The Met Office forecasts heatwave criteria being met in the south and southeast of England from Saturday, with temperatures potentially reaching 33°C on Monday and a Yellow Heat-Health Alert in force.