Fights break out on beaches and roads could MELT as ‘killer’ heatwave brings hottest day of the year in Britain – with warnings mercury could hit 36C
An intense heatwave gripping Britain is peaking today with what could be the hottest day in three years as an amber heat health alert was extended into tomorrow.
Tempers have flared on Bournemouth beach as five police officers were injured in a fight involving a large group of a young people near the pier at 7.30pm last night.
Dorset Police rushed to the scene and two officers were assaulted as they began making arrests, while a teenage girl was taken to hospital for treatment.
One youth was held back by a girl while a dozen officers arrested a suspect. Five people were arrested on suspicion of affray and one on suspicion of assault.
Dorset Police Federation chairman Chris Wood said: ‘The injuries received by our colleagues in Bournemouth are despicable. We are supporting our colleagues.’
Elsewhere, Kent Police made six arrests, dispersed 74 people and searched 24 others across Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate between last Friday and Sunday.
Temporary powers were brought amid a response to underage street drinking and aggressive behaviour towards staff at shops and restaurants earlier last month.
In London, shocking video showed a knife-wielding attacker pulling out a huge blade and threatened a young girl at Gladstone Park in Dollis Hill yesterday evening.
The hooded perpetrator ran up to a girl and brazenly lunged the huge kitchen knife just inches away from her face, as others could be heard screaming in terror.
A sunbather on the beach at Weymouth in Dorset this afternoon showing signs of sunburn
Police carry away a detained individual after a mass brawl on Bournemouth beach last night
Police at the scene in Bournemouth last night after a fight involving a group of a young people
Two officers were assaulted as they began making arrests in Bournemouth yesterday evening
The scene near Bournemouth pier in Dorset after a brawl on the seafront yesterday evening
Police officers in Bournemouth yesterday evening after two were assaulted during a fight
Kent Police officers disperse a group of teenagers on Broadstairs beach over the weekend
Shocking footage showed the moment a knife-wielding attacker pulled out a huge blade and threatened a young girl at Gladstone Park in North West London yesterday evening
A woman sunbathes at St James’s Park in London this afternoon during the heatwave
A spectator uses fans to keep cool on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships today
A woman eats an ice cream while walking over Westminster Bridge in London this afternoon
Spectators cover themselves from the sun on day one at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, June 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)
Low water levels at Baitings Reservoir reveal an ancient pack horse bridge in Ripponden today
Police later attended the park but saw no one who matched the description of the woman. No one was injured, no weapons were found and no arrests were made.
In North Wales, tombstoning teenagers were rescued after jumping into the sea from the cliff face of the 13th century Criccieth Castle – with one youngster stranded more than 20ft up a dangerous rockface after trying to leap into water from the cliffs.
Another boy had to be saved from waist-deep water after trying to help his friend – but then began to suffer from the shock of cold water. Coastguards, firefighters, police, lifeboat crews and mountain rescue teams all attended last night.
Warmest June on record in England
Last month was the warmest June on record in England and the second-warmest for the UK, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.
The mean average temperature for England across the month was 16.9C, beating the previous June record of 16.7C set in 2023.
For the UK as a whole, the mean temperature was 15.2C, just behind 15.8C set in 2023.
Wales saw its third-warmest June, behind 2023 and 2018. Met Office temperature data began in 1884.
Today, the Met Office said temperatures could hit 36C (97F) after yesterday saw the hottest start to Wimbledon on record and a peak of 33.1C (91.6F) in London.
By 1pm today the mercury had hit 33.5C (92.3F) at East Malling in Kent – making it the UK’s hottest day of the year so far – beating the 33.2C (91.8F) on June 21 in Surrey.
In Bedfordshire, the council said gritters had been dispatched to protect the roads and provide grip for drivers amid fears the heat could cause the Tarmac to soften.
Affinity Water, which supplies water to parts of London and the South East, said the heatwave had ’caused a surge in demand, which can lead to low pressure in some areas’. It added: ‘Please use water for essential needs drinking, cooking and washing – so we can keep the supply flowing for everyone.’
And BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay missed the start of his morning show today after becoming stuck on a broken-down train on his way into the studio. Sara Cox, who was hosting the breakfast show, stayed on to cover for him.
It comes after parts of southern England sweated through a tropical night which happens when temperatures stay above 20C (68F) overnight into the morning.
Some tennis fans slept in the early heat after sunrise as they queued for day two of Wimbledon, with British number one Jack Draper and reigning women’s champion Barbora Krejcikova set to start their campaigns at the All England Club today.
Commuters on the London Underground faced travel chaos this morning after a fire alert at South Kensington, which saw the Circle line completely suspended and the District and Hammersmith & City lines both part-suspended.
A driver on one Tube train told passengers in an announcement that the fire was likely caused by the heat.
Elsewhere, an emergency speed restriction was imposed from 10am to 7pm today between East Croydon in South London and Burgess Hill in West Sussex due to high track temperatures – affecting Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink trains.
The heatwave will end after today, but conditions will remain warm – with 25C (77F) tomorrow, 26C (79F) on Thursday, 28C (82F) on Friday and 24C (75F) this weekend.
People on horseback in the dry conditions in Hyde Park in London this morning
Swimmers enjoy the water at the Faversham Pools complex in Kent this morning
The hottest day of 2024 was 34.8C (94.6F) in Cambridge on August 12; while the peak in 2023 was 33.5C (92.3F) in Kent on September 10; and the 2022 high was 40.3C (104.5F) on July 19 in Lincolnshire – the UK’s highest temperature on record.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) amber heat health alert warning of a ‘rise in deaths’ covers all of England apart from the North and will run until 9am tomorrow.
An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three days in a row, with thresholds varying from 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) in different areas.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) amber heat health alert warning of a ‘rise in deaths’ covers all of England apart from the North and will run until 9am tomorrow.
An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three days in a row, with thresholds varying from 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) in different areas.
Today, many parts of England will again pass above 30C (86F) as the heatwave continues, with 36C (97F) possible – while the rest of the UK will see more changeable conditions.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said there would be a ‘three-way split’ across the UK today, with high temperatures and ‘lots of sunshine on offer’ in south, central and eastern England.
He added: ‘There will be a bit of cloud here and there – you can’t even rule out one or two showers developing – but actually, across parts of the far South East, barely a cloud in the sky.
‘With all that sunshine, with all the hot weather that we’ve had recently, the heat’s going to continue to build (and) temperatures are going to rise a little bit higher.
‘Towards the South East many places high 20s (or) low 30s, but there’s potential that we could be looking at around 34, 35, maybe even 36C.’
Scattered showers coming from the South West will affect parts of Wales and northern England for a time today, while largely dry conditions are forecast across north-west Scotland and Northern Ireland, Mr Burkill added.
Fresher air is expected to sweep in from the continent over tonight into Wednesday, meaning it will start to feel ‘a bit more comfortable’ in many places, the forecaster said.
Spectators in the Wimbledon stands use fans to cool down and umbrellas to take cover today
Tennis fans queuing in the scorching heat on day two of the Wimbledon Championships today
Spectators in the stands at Wimbledon wear hats as the heatwave continues this afternoon
Wimbledon spectators at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London today
Fans use an umbrella to protect against the sun during the Wimbledon Championships today
Spectators in the queue on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships this morning
Spectators queue ahead of day two of Wimbledon in South West London this morning
Spectators in the queue for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London today
A woman uses a hand fan to cool herself down during the heatwave at Wimbledon today
Spectators in the queue on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships this morning
Spectators in the queue for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London today
Spectators in the queue on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships this morning
Spectators queue ahead of day two of Wimbledon in South West London this morning
A person buying a Panama Hat on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships today
Spectators in the queue on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships this morning
Spectators in the queue for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London today
Spectators in the queue on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships this morning
Spectators in the queue for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London today
Spectators in the queue on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships this morning
Spectators in the queue for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London today
Spectators in the queue on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships this morning
Spectators in the queue for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London today
Spectators in the queue on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships this morning
Spectators in the queue for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London today
A Wimbledon poster at a bus stop on day two of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships today
A man uses a phone to book a Lime Bike on day two of the Wimbledon Championships today
Amber heat health alerts issued by the UKHSA for Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the East of England, London, the South East and the South West were extended until 9am tomorrow.
A yellow heat health alert was also extended to the same time for the North West.
Health heat alerts are issued by the UKHSA and Met Office when weather conditions are expected to have severe impacts across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among the over 65s and those with health conditions.
There are also concerns over an increase in demand on health and care services, and overheated hospitals and care homes.
The sweltering heat meant yesterday was one of the hottest June days ever, with UK temperatures for the month only surpassing 34C (93.2F) in only three years since 1960.
The hottest June day ever was 35.6C (96.1F), recorded on June 28, 1976.
Yesterday was provisionally the hottest start to Wimbledon on record, with 29.7C (85.5F) being recorded at the nearby Kew Gardens.
The previous record at the tennis championships – 29.3C (84.7F) – was set on June 25, 2001.
It marks the second heatwave for parts of the UK this month, with scientists warning searing temperatures of 32C (90F) earlier in June were made 100 times more likely because of human-caused climate change, while the heatwave that gripped south-east England was 10 times likelier.
They said heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, and experts have warned heatwaves are ‘silent killers’, with the impacts of heat severely underestimated.
They also say that the UK is unprepared for the rising risk of extremely hot conditions that climate change is bringing – especially earlier in the summer, when people are less acclimatised to coping with it.
Professor Richard Allan, from the University of Reading, said the UK was on the edge of a ‘large dome of heat’ over continental Europe which was driving the heat wave, while ocean temperatures were also up to 2C above average to the south-west of the UK and ‘hotter still in the western Mediterranean’.
‘The ebb and flow of gigantic atmospheric waves have generated the stable, cloud-free conditions for heat to build up across western Europe,’ he said, but added that rising greenhouse gas levels due to human activities were making heat waves more intense.
Temperatures have climbed above 40C in countries including Italy, Spain and Greece, with holiday destinations such as Rome, Milan and Naples under the highest heat alert, while Greece is on high wildfire alert.
Two young women cool off in front of a large fan at a London Underground station this morning
Hot weather on the Jubilee line in London this morning as commuters use fans to cool down
Commuters endure very hot conditions on the London Underground network this morning
A very hot morning on the London Underground today as passengers travel on the Jubilee line
Commuters endure very hot conditions on the London Underground network this morning
Day one of the Henley Royal Regatta in Oxfordshire this morning
A pretty sunrise on a hot and humid morning in the Oxfordshire countryside at Dunsden today
A beautiful sunrise over the River Thames at Gravesend in Kent early this morning
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: ‘The current spell of hot weather is forecast to continue until the middle of this week, with temperatures above 30C likely in most regions of England.
‘We are reminding everyone to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.
‘Remember that it is very important to check on friends, family and neighbours who are more vulnerable, as the temperatures we are likely to see over the next few days can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions.’
Dr Friederike Otto, associate professor at Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said climate change was an ‘absolute game-changer’ for heat in Europe, making heat waves more frequent and more intense.
‘Heat waves are called the silent killer, for a reason, every year thousands of people in Europe die due to extreme heat, particularly those that live in poorly insulated homes, on busy, polluted roads, and that already have health problems,’ she said.
‘But extreme heat also leads to agricultural losses, infrastructure failure and puts a big strain on plants and animals.’
Meanwhile, the Business Secretary has said the UK does not need additional workplace laws which would allow Britons to be sent home during hot weather.
Jonathan Reynolds said ‘behavioural changes’ like drinking plenty of water and staying protected in the sun were more important.
A rescue operation was launched to save tombstoning teenagers who jumped into the sea from the cliff face of the 13th century Criccieth Castle in North Wales last night
Criccieth Castle is seen in the distance on top of the hill during last night’s rescue operation
There is no law nor guidance in the UK for minimum or maximum acceptable workplace temperatures, but employers must follow health and safety law to keep temperatures at a reasonable level.
Mr Reynolds suggested a law change was not needed when asked if workers should be sent home in the event temperatures climb too high and there is no mitigation like air conditioning in place.
He said: ‘It is a hot day today for a northerner like myself. I’m struggling a little bit with it.
‘There are existing laws in place, the health and safety acts, around what a safe workplace should be. I don’t think we need more legislation in that area.’
He added: ‘Obviously, some behavioural changes, making sure people are hydrated, obviously are duly protected if they work, particularly outside.
‘I think we have got to make sure that we’re doing that. We shouldn’t need additional laws.’
Conservationists and green experts have warned of the wildfire risk of the heatwave as well as the impact on farmers, who face another poor harvest following one of the driest springs on record.
Retailers warned today that fruit and vegetable prices in Britain have increased due to the hot and dry weather reducing harvest yields.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said this jump had contributed to shop prices having returned to inflation for the first time in almost a year.
Overall shop prices were 0.4 per cent higher in June than a year earlier – a significant jump from the decline of 0.1 per cent seen in May, according to the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index.
Food inflation increased to 3.7 per cent from May’s 2.8 per cent in May, while fresh food was 3.2 per cent more expensive than a year ago.
Meat prices have also been hit by high wholesale prices and more expensive labour costs.
In terms of wildfires, Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation and restoration ecology at the National Trust, said: ‘With record-breaking temperatures across the country this week following the driest spring on record, our ranger and countryside teams are on high alert for fires which can cause decades of damage to habitats, decimate ecosystems and result in significant losses to our wildlife.
‘Unfortunately, the sad truth is that most of the fires in the UK that impact our landscapes are started by people, whether accidentally or not, rather than by natural causes.
‘Therefore, we’re calling on people to help us protect wildlife and habitats by acting responsibly when outdoors, as even a small spark can cause a fire, and to please call 999 if you see a fire or any suspicious behaviour.’
SPAIN: A woman uses an umbrella to protect herself from the sun in the heat in Seville today
BELGIUM: A man walks through the water jets of a public fountain in Brussels today
FRANCE: Tourists cool off in the Trocadero Fountain next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris today
GERMANY: A dog stands in a river in Murr today as temperatures soar across Europe
Tom Lancaster, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) land, food and farming analyst, said: ‘Crop condition remains poor following one of the driest springs on record, with the quality of key arable crops such as wheat, barley and oats well down on recent years.
‘Condition is particularly poor in the north of England, which has experienced low levels of rainfall, with much of it in drought.
Read More
The heatwave hacks that could prove DEADLY
‘Many farmers will now be looking towards this harvest with real trepidation.
‘For some, the weather in the coming weeks will determine whether they have anything worth harvesting at all.’
Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, research fellow at the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, said: ‘Heatwaves are silent killers.
‘Unlike floods or storms, their impact can be invisible: people who die during extreme heat usually have pre-existing health conditions, and heat is rarely recorded as a contributing cause of death.’
In a warning to drivers, Alice Simpson, RAC Breakdown spokesperson, said: ‘It’s vital that anyone driving today carries plenty of water to stay hydrated behind the wheel and in case of a vehicle breakdown.
‘In incredibly hot conditions, vehicles’ cooling systems are under extreme pressure which inevitably means some will fail. A quick check of coolant level could be the difference between getting safely to your destination and an unwanted breakdown.’
