UK sees hottest day of the year as 38.1C recorded in Kew Gardens

The UK experienced its hottest day of the year, with temperatures reaching 38.1C in Kew Gardens, London, according to the Met Office. This marks the fifth hottest day on record for England. The heatwave that caused these extreme temperatures peaked on Thursday, surpassing the previous record of 38C set in Lingwood, Norfolk on June 26.

A heat health alert has been issued across England until 9 PM BST on Friday, warning of significant health impacts. Charlwood in Surrey and Pershore in Worcestershire both recorded 37.8C on Thursday, while Wisley recorded 37.2C. Front of house manager at a pub in Pershore described the heat as unbearable, with the kitchen temperature reaching 36C.

This marks the first year on record to see three separate days with temperatures reaching 37C. Amber warnings for extreme heat are in place for a large part of England, with temperatures expected to reach 35C in Wales, where a drought has been declared. A yellow thunderstorm warning is in place for Northern Ireland until 6 AM on Friday, with rain forecast for much of Scotland.

More than 27 million people are facing water use restrictions, including hosepipe bans, and thousands of homes in east London and Essex are still experiencing water outages. The extreme heat has also proven deadly, with A&E departments in England recording their busiest summer ever, and preliminary figures suggesting more than 2,800 heat-related deaths in May and June.

An ambulance technician described working in the heat as vile, while other healthcare workers reported being dripping with sweat. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the figures show the additional burden placed on the NHS during periods of extreme heat, urging the NHS to plan for similar summer pressures in the future. England has also seen a total of 1,017 wildfires this year, matching last year's record, with a wildfire in the New Forest, Hampshire, affecting an area roughly the size of 230 football pitches.