Record temperatures in the UK

The Met Office has continued a Red Extreme Heat Warning for most of England and Wales, with Wiggonholt, Sussex hitting the highest June temperature ever recorded at 35.8°C. Gatwick is currently reporting 35°C with a heat index of 38.6°C, which is the psychological equivalent of 120°F in Chicago.

From the Met Office:

Met Office Chief Forecaster Matthew Lehnert said: “This is exceptional heat for June with temperature records expected to be broken this week. Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting significant impacts from this heatwave, with health issues likely, even beyond those who are more vulnerable to the heat.

"High humidity is an additional factor for this heatwave which will mean the heat will feel much more potent for many. When you couple all of this with the high overnight temperatures, with temperatures likely to stay above 20°C for large parts of England and Wales, these combined impacts all increase the potential for significant impacts.”

Temperatures will exceed 30°C for many on Wednesday and Thursday, with a peak of around 37°C possible on Wednesday and 38°C on Thursday and Friday, though there’s still a chance of this being exceeded.

The Continent is dealing with the same heat dome, with France recording its hottest day ever yesterday:

The record of 29.8°C (85.6°F) for France’s national thermal indicator — an average of temperatures measured at 30 weather stations — was only the latest in a series of never-before-registered highs heaped on Europe’s largest country. The conditions were likely to persist at least until the weekend.

“Further record-breaking temperatures are expected, including some that could surpass all previous records, regardless of the time of year,” the Meteo France weather service said.

France’s previous hottest days were recorded during heat waves of August 2003 and July 2019, with an average temperature of 29.4°C (84.9°F).

The temperature at Paris De Gaulle hit 40°C this afternoon, and it's 41°C outside Nantes.

It looks like some rain may cool things off in France and Spain tomorrow, but tonight, with most of the country having never heard of air conditioning, things will suck for most people.