Britain breaks June heat record again as temperatures soar to 37.3°C

According to the Met Office, the temperature surpassed the provisional June records set on June 24 and June 25. If verified through the official assessment process, 37.3°C will become the UK's new all-time highest temperature ever recorded in June.

The weather agency said several other monitoring stations also exceeded the previous June record of 35.6°C, which had stood since June 28, 1976, and June 29, 1957.

Met Office Chief Forecaster Andy Page described the conditions as unprecedented.

"Today marks the peak of the heatwave in terms of temperatures and the third consecutive day of record-breaking June heat," Page said.

"This exceptional heat has been unprecedented for June and is another marker of how climate change is shifting the dial on temperature extremes in the UK," he added.

The heatwave has also shattered records across other parts of the UK.

Wales recorded its highest-ever June temperature of 35.9°C at Bute Park in Cardiff on June 25. The same location also provisionally set the UK's and Wales' highest overnight minimum temperature for June, with the mercury remaining at 23.5°C overnight from Wednesday into Thursday.

England also provisionally recorded its highest June overnight minimum temperature, with 23.0°C measured in Plymouth.

In Northern Ireland, Castlederg equalled the country's warmest June day on record with 30.8°C on June 25, matching the record set on June 30, 1976.

The Met Office also said Northern Ireland provisionally broke its highest June overnight minimum temperature record, with 19.1°C recorded at Murlough between Thursday and Friday.

Cooler Weather Expected This Weekend

The Met Office said weather conditions are beginning to shift as cooler Atlantic air gradually moves in from the west, bringing the possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall, large hail, lightning and strong wind gusts. Weather warnings have been issued for several regions.

Temperatures are expected to fall first across western parts of the UK before cooler conditions gradually spread eastward through the weekend.

Looking ahead, Andy Page said southeastern England is likely to retain the highest temperatures the longest.

"The UK is seeing a gradual shift in conditions over the weekend, with those in southeast England retaining the warmth the longest, where an Amber Extreme Heat Warning remains in force through much of Saturday, although peak temperatures are more likely to remain in the low 30s Celsius," he said.

Western Scotland and much of Northern Ireland are expected to receive rain on Saturday, with light showers extending further south on Sunday. Southeastern England is likely to remain largely dry through the weekend, although isolated thunderstorms remain possible before temperatures return closer to seasonal averages by Sunday night and Monday.

Climate Change Driving More Extreme Heat

Meanwhile, climate research group World Weather Attribution (WWA) said human-caused climate change, driven primarily by fossil fuel emissions, has dramatically increased the frequency and intensity of European heatwaves.

The organisation noted that temperatures across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and southern England have been running 5°C to 12°C above seasonal averages, fuelled by a persistent high-pressure system that has transported hot air from North Africa while allowing strong sunshine under clear skies.

According to the WWA, extreme heat events like the current one have become tens to hundreds of times more likely since 2003 and would have been virtually impossible just half a century ago.

The group warned that a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels is essential to limit future warming and reduce the growing risks posed by increasingly severe heatwaves.