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Will it rain today? A useful rainfall rain radar map for the UK. You can easily pan and zoom on the map to view the exact local rainfall.

June 26, 2026Plans to protect people fall ‘far short of what is needed’, government told, as MP warns of heatwave deaths UK politics live – latest updates The UK government is facing increasingly urgent calls for action to protect people against the intensifying effects of the climate crisis, as the highest maximum temperature record for June was broken for the third day in a row. With the country in the grip of the worst heatwave ever recorded in western Europe – a direct result of global heating – the chair of parliament’s environmental audit committee warned ministers of the urgent threat and said the UK was falling “far short of what is needed”. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 26, 2026Neso asks generators to provide extra electricity on Friday evening to meet demand from fans and air conditioning Business live – latest updates Great Britain’s energy system operator has raised the alarm over electricity supplies for the second time this week as the heatwave continues to disrupt Europe’s energy markets. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued a notice late on Thursday asking generators to provide any extra electricity possible on Friday evening to help meet rising demand as households turn on air conditioners and electric fans to cope with the heat. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 26, 2026RMetS supports Martingale Foundation “Solve for X” challenge linking climate and health data nathan.reece@r… 26 June 2026 The Royal Meteorological Society is pleased to be working with the Martingale Foundation through its Solve for X programme – a five-day interdisciplinary challenge designed to bring together PhD Scholars to tackle complex real-world problems in collaboration with industry and academic partners. The Martingale Foundation supports postgraduate students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to continue into research careers, helping to broaden participation in advanced STEM and ensure that talent and potential are not limited by background. Through programmes such as Solve for X, the Foundation provides Scholars with access to high-level academic environments, professional networks, and applied challenges that build confidence, experience, and career readiness in research and industry settings. By engaging mathematics PhD Scholars directly with weather and climate science challenges, the programme also creates an important opportunity to strengthen connections between advanced mathematical training and the real-world application of climate and environmental science – supporting shared ambitions to attract and retain more diverse talent into the weather and climate sector. Hosted at St John’s College Cambridge and delivered in partnership with the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences and Newton Gateway to Mathematics, Solve for X provides Scholars with the opportunity to apply advanced mathematical thinking to pressing societal and industrial challenges. Working in interdisciplinary teams and supported by expert mentors, participants develop and pitch solutions to real-world problems, gaining valuable experience in communicating complex analysis to a range of audiences. Ella Clarke, RMetS Head of Business Development, said: “Supporting initiatives like Solve for X is an important part of our commitment to widening participation in weather and climate science. We want to help ensure that talented people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to access, contribute to, and thrive in the sector. By working with the Martingale Foundation, we are also able to engage highly skilled mathematics students in real-world climate challenges, strengthening the pipeline of diverse talent into the weather and climate community.” The Challenge As part of this year’s challenge, RMetS is contributing a climate and health-focused case study exploring the relationship between extreme heat and human health outcomes. Using publicly available datasets, Scholars will examine how projected increases in extreme heat events could translate into future health impacts over the coming century. They will draw on the Met Office’s state-of-the-art UK climate projections and apply established methodologies from the UK Health Security Agency to estimate potential excess deaths associated with extreme heat. A key aspect of the challenge is communication. Participants will consider how best to present their findings to different audiences, including members of the public – particularly those most vulnerable to extreme heat – and local authority policymakers responsible for planning, adaptation, and prevention. This includes carefully considering which metrics are most meaningful, how to communicate uncertainty, and how to ensure results are both accurate and actionable. By engaging with these questions, Scholars gain insight not only into the analytical challenges of linking climate and health data, but also into the importance of effective science communication and decision-relevant framing in addressing climate risks. The exercise reflects the broader role of RMetS in bridging research, operational science, policy, and public understanding – helping ensure that advances in weather and climate science translate into tangible benefits for society. In addition to developing technical and analytical skills, Solve for X places strong emphasis on professional development, collaboration, and confidence-building. The programme provides Scholars with access to networks, mentoring, and real-world experience that are particularly important in supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds as they transition into research and professional careers. By supporting initiatives like Solve for X, RMetS continues to champion both the application of mathematical and climate science to real-world challenges, and the development of a more inclusive and diverse future scientific workforce.  26 June 2026 RMetS – General [...] Read more...
June 26, 2026Study also finds high humidity means people in hundreds of cities are enduring their worst ever heat stress The heatwave scorching western Europe is the most severe and widespread ever and is only possible due to the climate crisis driven by fossil fuel burning, scientists have said. Almost half of Europe’s 850 largest cities are also enduring their worst ever heat stress, a combination of temperature and humidity, they found. Muggier conditions mean sweating is less effective at cooling the body, making heatwaves even more dangerous. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 25, 2026Our schools are a dated mix of single glazing, dodgy pipes and atriums like Kew hothouses. They urgently need retrofitting for a changing climate This week’s soaring summer temperatures have put a spotlight on our schools and their ability to cope, with one in Hertfordshire telling me that it recorded temperatures of more than 40C. So why are our schools struggling? Modern schools often have too much glass, and not enough shading or ventilation to keep out the sun’s heat. During the 1950s, the focus on public health (after the creation of the NHS in 1948) meant that schools were designed to bring in more natural light. Windows often have built-in restrictors that stop them being opened too far, or at all, because of student safety concerns. Some schools have glass atriums, which were a common feature of those constructed during the government’s Building Schools for the Future programme in the early 2000s, but which now give the effect of walking into a Kew hothouse. Harry Paticas is an architect and the founder of Retrofit Action for Tomorrow Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 25, 2026Temperatures linked to third child’s death in France, where three-quarters of country is under extreme heat alert Europe live – latest updates The UK and Switzerland both recorded the hottest-ever June temperatures on Thursday, while brutally hot conditions supercharged by the climate crisis were linked to the death of a third toddler in France and a sharp rise in medical emergencies across Europe. The UK’s new provisional high of 36.4C (97.5F), recorded in Yeovilton, Somerset, surpassed Wednesday’s June record of 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, which had beaten the previous peak of 35.6C set in Southampton in 1976. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 25, 2026Extreme weather breaks MRI scanners and cooling units, as workload rises for sleep-deprived staff on sweltering wards Doctors have sounded the alarm over the disastrous impact of extreme heat on the NHS in England, with radiotherapy machines and MRI scanners failing, critical IT systems stalling and cooling units that serve entire hospitals breaking down. The hot weather has also prompted a surge in admissions and people arriving at A&E, causing severe overcrowding in some places and exacerbating heat-related pressures on infrastructure. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 25, 2026UK June heat record could be broken for the second consecutive day As the heatwave is set to hit large parts of Germany today, at least 101 million people in Europe are expected to experience temperatures in excess of 35C on Thursday, according to AFP estimates. That’s a higher number than yesterday’s 94 millions. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 24, 2026As western Europe bakes under what scientists describe as a heat dome, or ‘atmospheric lid’, residents across the continent are grappling with extreme temperatures caused by climate breakdown. France registered its hottest day on record as 40 people across the country were confirmed to have drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas over the last few days. The UK broke its all-time temperature record for June, with the Met Office issuing its second ever red alert. ‘To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering,’ said Stephen Belcher, the Met Office’s chief scientist. ‘Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply’ UK records its hottest June day, beating highs from 1957 and 1976 Europe heatwave live: UK breaks temperature record for June as parts of France hit 40C Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 24, 2026Readers react to the brutal heat conditions affecting Britain and Europe Last summer, I wrote to you warning of the growing threat that extreme heat poses to both patients and the NHS, that the demand for healthcare would rise as temperatures climbed, that our hospitals were ill-equipped to cope and that investment in resilience was urgently needed (Letters, 21 July 2025). A year on, the UK is set for another record-breaking heatwave, yet little has changed. The UK Health Security Agency has also taken the rare step of issuing a red heat alert in parts of England – signalling a serious threat to lives (Report, 22 June). This marks only the second time that a red alert has been issued. The last, in 2022, coincided with five waves of extreme heat that combined to cause an estimated 2,985 excess deaths in England alone. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 24, 2026Extreme weather is affecting people in areas from schools and care homes to construction sites – with workers urging leaders to take problem seriously Europe heatwave live – latest updates With temperatures in the UK approaching record levels for June, people are being advised to avoid exercise and unnecessary travel. So how do you work in this heat? We look at how various sectors of the economy are coping with unprecedented temperatures, and how working practices will have to adapt to increasingly frequent heatwaves that are predicted to be longer and more intense owing to the global climate emergency. Not all care facilities are created equal I’m not sure how much longer we can keep dodging bullets Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 24, 2026In today’s newsletter: As heatwaves intensify, Britain’s ecosystems are being pushed beyond their evolutionary limits Our green and pleasant land is sizzling. This week, millions of us across the UK are baking in unprecedented heat. The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning from 9am today in parts of southern Wales, and central and southern England. The temperature record for June of 35.6C is almost certain to be broken; Bristol is forecast to hit an alarming 39C tomorrow. In the heat, the country’s infrastructure is straining: millions of homes are overheating, rail operators have warned against all but essential travel, and hospital admissions are set to surge. The Climate Change Committee concluded last month the UK is built for a climate that no longer exists – and warned today on the country’s policies towards achieving net zero. UK news | Searing heat has swept the UK with schools, hospitals, transport networks and water companies struggling to cope with the extreme temperatures caused by climate breakdown. UK politics | Keir Starmer has met Andy Burnham for the first time since the Makerfield byelection in what sources said was a “frosty” meeting to thrash out a transition of power. US news | Marco Rubio is to meet Gulf allies in an attempt to reassure them that the US remains committed to their security and the 60-day ceasefire deal struck with Iran last week will not embolden Tehran. Europe news | Forty people have drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas across France in recent days, as people across the country sought respite from a record-breaking heatwave. UK politics | Nigel Farage has said his £5m gift from a crypto billionaire is “not any of your business” as it was given unconditionally to be spent on anything from Ferraris to gambling on horses. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 24, 2026Temperatures expected to hit 40C in parts of the UK, as extreme heatwave spreads slowly eastwards, sparking warnings in Italy and the Netherlands France records hottest day ever as 40 people drown across country Tell us: how is the heatwave in the UK and across Europe affecting you? The extreme heat is expected to cause problems for parents today as schools shut early or close to protect pupils. Almost 100 schools in Somerset will be fully closed on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the council. And about 100 schools will be at least partially closed over the next two days in Buckinghamshire, along with 86 schools in Gloucestershire, according to council data. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 24, 2026Many buildings are in use past their predicted lifespans, but even newer designs lack measures to beat heat To see the UK’s failure to plan for the impacts of climate crisis, look no further than Beaconsfield primary school in west London – where a building more than 100 years old copes with extreme temperatures better than its neighbour, built less than 10 years ago. “I’ve got two buildings on my site – the older building is a Victorian-Edwardian-style building. It’s roughly 130 years old. That building is constructed with solid brickwork, very thick walls. It stays warm in winter and in summer it tends to keep the heat out so it is cooler inside. Even this week it’s starting to get uncomfortable but it’s still tolerable,” said Dave Woods, Beaconsfield’s headteacher. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 24, 202626 June 1976: Paramedics are called out to over 40 fainting cases in Leeds, while overheating cars cause huge tailbacks Flaming June scorched its way through the record books again yesterday, as the temperature soared to 91F (32.2C) in London, only a shade lower than the hottest day ever recorded in the capital, in 1940. Office workers stripped off and plunged into the fountains at Trafalgar Square, and the more sedate businessmen retained their bowlers and brollies while bathing their tired feet. But things were not so happy for hundreds of commuters who sweltered in the oppressive heat for 90 minutes when a tube train became stranded in a tunnel after a signal failure between Swiss Cottage and St John’s Wood. Passengers overcome by heat smashed windows and stripped to the waist. But when the train arrived at Baker Street after what should have been an eight-minute journey, no one needed hospital treatment. An inquiry is being held. The AA and RAC reported a flood of calls from motorists whose cars had overheated. The M4 was blocked from Heston to Chiswick by a collection of broken down vehicles and there were tailbacks of three miles in both directions. The temperature at the AA station near Gallows Corner, Romford, Essex, was reported to have reached 101F, and it was said to be 99.7F at Hatfield, Hertfordshire. But the London Weather Centre said last night that some temperatures recorded during the day were misleading. “They were probably recorded in direct sunlight,” said a spokesman. Four places shared the honours as the hottest spots in Britain, he said: London; Heathrow Airport; Jersey; and Farnborough, Hampshire, all with 91F. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026Temperature on Tuesday hits high of 34.6C in Surrey, England, with heatwave forecast to get more intense on Wednesday and Thursday Europe heatwave live – latest updates Searing heat has swept the UK with schools, hospitals, transport networks and water companies struggling to cope with the extreme temperatures caused by climate breakdown. Temperatures hit highs of 34.6C in Wisley in Surrey, the Met Office said, with the UN chief warning that London was “cooking”. Reduced rail speeds and services. Hospital patient appointments cancelled. School closures across southern England and Wales. Hosepipe bans in south-east England. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026Record-breaking temperatures should focus minds on the UK’s lack of preparedness for the climate dangers ahead As western Europe bakes under what scientists describe as a heat dome, or “atmospheric lid”, reports of dozens of drownings, and heat-linked deaths of children and elderly people in France, are a stark reminder of the threat to life from extreme heat – and the fact that some people face higher risks than others. The red alert covering most of southern England and Wales for Wednesday and Thursday is only the second such warning to be issued. With the UK’s June record of 35.6C expected to be broken, hundreds of schools are closed. Network Rail has advised against non-essential travel. Temperatures in France and Spain are expected to be even higher, before the heat moves eastwards. But since the UK is less used to intense heat than its Mediterranean neighbours, it faces distinct challenges. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026The UK Met Office said 29,074 lightning strikes were recorded in the UK in the 24 hours before 9am on Tuesday as a storm swept across southern England. The thunderstorm came as Europe sweltered through a record-breaking June heatwave. The Met Office warned temperatures could reach 39C on Thursday, most likely in London or the south-east of England Europe weather Forty drown across France in heatwave and parts of Spain above 30C at night Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026It’s worth a try, according to the Red Cross – seriously Name: Cold feet. Age No, wait, I know this. Late 90s I think, so about 31? No, because this isn’t to do with Cold Feet, the TV comedy drama about middle-class couples living in Manchester. We’re talking lower-case cold feet. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026As parts of the UK swelter, try these low-energy ways to cool down – from fly screens and no-cook meals to air coolers that use a fraction of the electricity of aircon • The best cooling fans Where I grew up, snow days were a foreign concept. Instead, children looked to the other end of the thermometer when hoping for a day off school. Playground rumour had it that when the temperature reached more than 40C, classes would be cancelled. I finished primary school at the turn of the century, so never saw that theory tested. But as the climate crisis intensifies, throughout much of south-eastern Australia, we’ve come to expect at least one 40C day each summer. That means subsequent cohorts of Australian children are learning that temperature triggers for school closure were only ever an urban legend. Instead, in many schools, hot weather means staying indoors during break and lunch. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026Unions say it is dangerous for schools to stay open in high temperatures Hundreds of schools across the south of England and Wales are expected to close or vary their hours this week, in an effort to combat the extreme heat and conditions labelled as dangerous by education unions. School leaders said they had warned parents about potential closures on Wednesday and Thursday, with many opting to end the day early to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026How did you cope? What do you remember of that period of hot weather? Tell us and share your pictures The record temperature for June set in Hampshire in 1976 is expected to be surpassed during this current UK heatwave. The highest June temperature on record of 35.6C was set on 29 June 1957 in London. This was then equalled on 28 June 1976 in Southampton during that year’s heatwave. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026Whether you fire up the outdoor projector or Netflix and chill in a cool, dark place – let the escapism of cinema be a balm amid the punishingly hot weather As you will no doubt have noticed, it is quite warm out. Historically warm, in fact. By the end of the week it is likely that the UK will have seen its warmest June day since records began. The Met Office has issued a red warning, recommending that people stay out of the sun entirely. Which sounds an awful lot like code for “stay inside and watch films.” But which films? It seems only right to watch something that reflects this apocalyptic weather somehow. Here are some suggestions: Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026As We Mark the 50th Anniversary of the 1976 Heatwave: UK Set to Break June 1976 Temperature Record nathan.reece@r… 23 June 2026 As we mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Heatwave, the Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning, with temperatures expected to reach 39°C in parts of the South and South East on Wednesday and Thursday this week. This would break the June record of 35.6°C, set in 1976, by more than 3 degrees. It was also announced on the 50th anniversary of 1976 that Britain could reach peak temperatures of 45°C by 2056, with more extreme heatwaves than those experienced in 1976 expected to significantly change life in the UK over the coming decades. A plausible scenario for 23 June 2056, produced by the Met Office, shows peak temperatures of 45°C in England, 38°C in Scotland, 41°C in Wales and 30°C in Belfast. This 14-day heatwave scenario sees the UK sustain temperatures above 40°C for nine consecutive days and is only plausible because of high greenhouse gas emissions, the majority of which come from burning fossil fuels. Weather presenters and meteorologists Laura Tobin, Peter Gibbs and Clare Nasir presented the 2056 forecast at an event marking the anniversary at The Lightroom in King’s Cross. The event was delivered in partnership with the Royal Meteorological Society, the University of Reading, Newcastle University, the Met Office, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the Climate+ Co-Centre. Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said:  “In the summer of 1976, I was an eight-year-old growing up in Yorkshire. Parts of the region had restrictions on water supplies, with no running water in our house and a standpipe in the road. I thought it was great fun queuing with my friends to fill up pots and pans and carry them home for my mum to use. Looking back, I wonder how she coped bringing up three young children, but at the time I was completely unaware of the wider drought crisis unfolding around us. What many people remember as a glorious summer also brought real hardship to communities across the country. Heatwaves will become more frequent and more severe over the coming decades. It will be mothers, children, older people and the most vulnerable who suffer most unless we act now to ensure our homes, communities and public services are prepared for a much hotter future.” Interested in learning more about the 1976 drought? Browse our collection of articles, event recordings and other resources. 23 June 2026 [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026Temperatures could hit 38-40C in parts of England and Wales, smashing June record set in 1976; red alerts in France after 19 heat deaths Two children found dead in car in France as heatwave hits Europe The heatwave affecting large parts of Europe is known as an Omega block because it takes the shape of the Greek letter, with a bulge of hot air in the middle and cooler air either side, an expert says. “It’s drawing warm air up from North Africa, from the Sahara, and that’s why we have this really intense heat,” said Clair Barnes, a climate scientist at Imperial College in London, quoted by Reuters. It’s very slow moving and it means there’s kind of no wind, ‌no breeze for respite. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 23, 2026Half a century on, Britain braces for temperatures up to 40C as global heating brings yet more extreme weather The summer of 1976 is seared on to national memory as one of record heat. Harvests failed, farmers despaired, Britain imported an extra million tonnes of grain, food prices rose by 12%, taps ran dry, and each day, 250 people died from heat-related deaths. The heatwave, which began 50 years ago on Tuesday, brought 15 consecutive days where the peak temperature was above 32C. Half a century later and 32C no longer feels shocking. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 22, 2026People in southern Wales and area of England from Kent and Sussex to Somerset and Birmingham urged to protect themselves from extreme heat The UK’s Met Office forecasters have issued a rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday in the face of extreme heat and humidity. It covers southern Wales as far west as Swansea, and an area of England that includes London and runs from the inland areas of Kent and Sussex, all the way across to Somerset, as far north-west as Birmingham, and as far north-east as southern Cambridgeshire. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 21, 2026Health alerts are in place as very high humidity adds to danger of heat stress for the most vulnerable The Met Office has expanded its extreme heat warning for the UK, predicting record-breaking highs of 38C (100.4F) this week. The Met Office forecasts that extremely high temperatures could last from Monday until Thursday, leading to health concerns for elderly and vulnerable people. The forecaster said there was “growing confidence” that this week may break the record for the hottest June temperature of 35.6C, which was set in 1976 in Southampton and Camden Square, London, in June 1957. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 19, 2026Temperatures expected to climb to 30C over the weekend in southern England and south-east Wales The Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning for much of southern England and south-east Wales over the coming days – the most extreme heat warning the weather forecaster has issued for nearly four years. Temperatures are expected to climb to about 30C (86F) over the weekend and peak on Monday and Tuesday at 34C, “though there remains a chance of this being exceeded in some spots”, the Met Office said. Continue reading… [...] Read more...
June 18, 2026Temperatures expected to hit 30C on Friday and remain high over weekend as second heatwave in three weeks approaches Amber heat warnings have been issued for parts of southern England as a second heatwave in the space of three weeks approaches. Temperatures are expected to climb to 30C on Friday, remain high over the weekend, and reach 33C on Monday. Continue reading… [...] Read more...

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