The UK has provisionally recorded its hottest June day on record, with temperatures reaching 36.1°C in Hampshire as an intense heatwave continues to grip large parts of the country.
According to the Met Office, a temperature of 36.1°C was recorded at Gosport, Hampshire, on 24 June, surpassing the previous June record of 35.6°C, which was set on 28 June 1976 and matched on 29 June 1957.
If confirmed following a formal verification process, the new figure will become the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK during June.
The record-breaking conditions come just weeks after May also saw daily UK temperature records broken.
Several other weather stations, including Charlwood, Wisley and Wiggonholt, also exceeded the previous June record as the heatwave intensified across the UK.
Meanwhile, Wales has provisionally recorded its highest minimum June temperature on record. The lowest temperature recorded overnight at St Athan, South Glamorgan, during the early hours of 23 June was 20.3°C.
Such temperatures are often referred to as a “tropical night”, where temperatures remain above 20°C, offering little respite from the heat after sunset.
The Met Office has warned that temperatures could climb even higher over the coming days, with the current heatwave forecast to continue through Thursday and Friday.
Before any new records are officially recognised, the Met Office will carry out a detailed verification process. This includes site inspections and checks of the equipment used to measure temperatures.
The organisation said all potential records must meet strict national and international standards before being formally added to the meteorological record books. Any figures that fail to meet the required criteria will not be accepted as official records.
Met Office Science Manager Amy Doherty said: “If confirmed, a new June daily temperature record would be significant, especially following on the heels of the recent records set in May.
“The new record provides further evidence that temperatures previously considered extreme are becoming increasingly common as a result of human-induced climate change.”
The Met Office is expected to begin its verification process once the current heatwave comes to an end. With exceptionally high temperatures forecast to continue, there remains the possibility that the provisional June record could be broken again before then.
