UK records hottest day of year as temperature crosses 38°C in west London

The provisional reading, recorded by the Met Office, surpassed the previous 2026 high of 38C set on June 28The UK recorded its hottest day of the year on Thursday, with temperatures reaching 38.1C (100.6F) at Kew Gardens in west London as a powerful heatwave continued to grip parts of Europe.The provisional reading, recorded by the Met Office, surpassed the previous 2026 high of 38C set on June 28. It was also the fifth-highest temperature ever recorded in the UK, although it remained below the August record of 38.5C set in 2003.Temperatures reached 38C in Pershore, Worcestershire, while 40 locations across central and southern England recorded 36C or higher. The latest surge means 2026 has already seen a record four days with temperatures of at least 36C, while the UK has matched 2022's t