Provisional Met Office data indicates July is among the warmest on record for parts of the UK, while heat-related deaths have reached record levels.
Key facts
- •Wales is on course for its warmest July based on mean temperature.
- •England is on track for its joint warmest July on record.
- •The UK has recorded seven days over 35C so far this year, a new record.
- •There have been 31 days with temperatures exceeding 30C in 2024.
- •An estimated 2,877 heat-related deaths occurred during May and June.
Provisional statistics from the Met Office up to July 30 indicate that England and Wales are on track for their warmest July on record based on mean temperatures. Northern Ireland is also experiencing its third-warmest July, while Scotland remains outside the top 10. These figures reflect the average temperature across each 24-hour period throughout the month.
By the numbers
Temperature trends and records
While maximum temperatures have not surpassed the record of 40.3C set in Coningsby in 2022, southern England has seen mean temperatures 3.2C above average. The highest temperature recorded this July was 35.5C at Wisley in Surrey on July 9. The UK has experienced seven days with temperatures exceeding 35C this year, surpassing the previous record of five days set in 1976 and equaled in 2020. Additionally, there have been 31 days with temperatures over 30C.
Impact on public health
The UK Health Security Agency estimates that England is on track for the highest number of heat-related deaths since records began. A preliminary assessment identified an estimated 2,877 heat-related deaths during heatwaves in May and June, a figure nearly double the total recorded for the entirety of last year.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Science & Environment.
