The United Kingdom experienced its highest temperature of the year on Thursday, with the mercury hitting 38.1 degrees Celsius in west London, according to the national weather service. This marked a new peak for 2026, surpassing the previous high of 38 degrees Celsius recorded on June 26. However, it fell short of the UK’s all-time August record of 38.5 degrees Celsius set in 2003.
Both Britain and France are currently in the midst of their fifth heatwave of the year, with the first one occurring in May. The scorching temperatures in 2026 have already seen four days with temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius, matching the record set in 2022 with two days hitting 38 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, France has been experiencing even hotter temperatures, with some areas reaching close to 41 degrees Celsius, from Aquitaine in the southwest to the Rhone River valley in the east. The intense heat is expected to gradually move eastwards away from Britain and France on Friday and ease over the weekend.
The ongoing summer heatwaves have highlighted the lack of infrastructure in both countries to cope with such extreme conditions. Air conditioning is scarce outside of commercial establishments, leading to challenges for workers, including reports of nurses collapsing from heat exhaustion in hospitals lacking adequate cooling systems.
Drought conditions have also plagued many parts of Europe, causing crop failures and water shortages. In the UK, Southern Water has applied for a rare drought order to restrict non-essential water use in certain regions due to the exceptionally dry conditions. The Environment Secretary will decide on the application, which could be the first ban of its kind since 2006.
With the landscape parched and no relief from rainfall in sight, authorities in both Britain and France are on high alert for wildfires. England and Wales have already seen over 1,000 wildfires this year, highlighting the need for better preparedness for such events.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering a ban on disposable barbecues to mitigate the risk of wildfires as the heatwave continues. In France, firefighters are once again battling blazes, with some threatening to strike due to inadequate resources to deal with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
These challenges underscore the urgent need for both countries to adapt to the new reality of more frequent and intense heatwaves and their associated impacts on society and the environment.