Britain experienced its highest temperature of the year on Thursday, with west London hitting 38.1 C, as confirmed by the national weather service. This surpassed the previous 2026 high of 38 C set on June 26 but remained below the record of 38.5 C from August 2003. The U.K., similar to France, is currently under its fifth heat wave of the year, starting from May, with 2026 seeing a record number of days with temperatures over 36 C. Additionally, this year has matched 2022 with two days hitting 38 C.
In France, temperatures soared even higher, nearing 41 C in various regions from Aquitaine to the Rhone River valley. The intense heat is expected to move away from Britain and France by Friday and gradually diminish over the weekend.
Both Britain and France are struggling to cope with the extreme heat, lacking widespread access to air conditioning outside of commercial establishments. In Britain, healthcare workers have suffered heat-related illnesses in hospitals due to inadequate cooling systems in aging buildings, as reported by the Royal College of Nursing.
The ongoing drought conditions across Europe have severely impacted agriculture and water resources. Southern England’s Southern Water has requested a rare drought order to restrict non-essential water usage, citing a critical lack of rain threatening supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Environment Secretary will make a decision on this application, potentially the first ban since 2006.
With no significant rainfall in sight, authorities in Britain and France are on high alert for wildfires. England and Wales have recorded over 1,000 wildfires this year, matching the previous year’s total. While not at the level of countries like France, Greece, and Spain, these incidents highlight the need for the U.K. to adapt to the changing climate.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering banning disposable barbecues to prevent further wildfires amid the persistent heatwave. French firefighters are also facing challenges and are contemplating strike actions to demand additional resources to manage the escalating weather events, following a destructive summer that included forest fires in different regions.
The situation underscores the urgent need for both countries to address the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.