Britain has just lived through an exceptional spell of heat that set a new benchmark for the month. According to the report, the United Kingdom witnessed its hottest ever June day, breaking a 50-year record, as the mercury climbed far higher than is usual for early summer across large parts of the country.
The peak temperatures were concentrated in the south of England but reached well beyond it. According to the report, it was 36 degrees Celsius in Hampshire and Surrey, and not far off that figure across a swathe of England and Wales, leaving much of the nation sweltering through the day under intense sunshine.
The heat did not just make for an uncomfortable day; it disrupted everyday life across the country. According to the report, rail passengers were told not to travel unless it was essential, while hundreds of thousands of children were given an unexpected break from school, with hundreds of schools closed or adjusting their timetables to cope with the conditions.
Emergency services felt the strain as the temperatures climbed. According to the report, the London Ambulance Service responded to a surge in heat-related emergency calls, ranging from heat strokes and sun strokes to people collapsing in the street, including one man found collapsed who was treated for a suspected heat stroke as paramedics carried out their checks.
Medical staff warned that the effects of such heat can be severe and fast-moving. According to the report, paramedics said extreme heat puts strain on the body, causing people to collapse, struggle to breathe or experience heart problems, and can also worsen existing health conditions, with some patients becoming seriously unwell very quickly.
Authorities prepared for the extra demand and cautioned that such episodes are likely to recur. According to the report, the service had about 400 extra ambulances on duty over the week, and while the hottest June day on record has now been officially recorded, the warning is that these extreme spells will become more frequent in the years ahead.