Overview
- The Met Office provisionally confirmed a UK June record of 37.3°C in Santon Downham on Friday, the third consecutive day that the old June record was exceeded.
- Temperatures are starting to ease in western Britain as thunderstorms move in but the core of the heat is shifting east toward Germany and Poland where preliminary readings topped 41°C near Saarbrücken.
- Officials across the UK and Europe reported major strain on services this week, including hospitals declaring critical incidents, canceled operations, reduced train services and closures of cultural sites.
- Reuters and other outlets reported that dozens of people died in France during the episode and that rail, power and outdoor events were disrupted at temperatures far above seasonal norms.
- Meteorologists say the event was driven by a stalled high-pressure 'Omega block' that traps hot air, and model guidance shows a plausible but uncertain resurgence of hot conditions in England in early July which could renew risks to vulnerable people and infrastructure.