UK heat deaths near record by June as 2,877 linked to early summer

London,UPDATED: Jul 30, 2026 18:44 IST

The UK could record its highest number of heat-associated deaths this year, with interim data showing 2,877 deaths during hot weather in May and June alone. The figures, released by the UK Health Security Agency on Thursday, are already close to the annual record of 2,985 reported in 2022.

The agency said the latest total is nearly double the 1,504 heat-associated deaths reported for the whole of 2025. The data has come as authorities have declared a drought in half of England this week, after persistent high temperatures and record-low rainfall.

According to the UKHSA's rapid early assessment, an estimated 753 deaths were linked to the May heat episode and another 2,124 to the June heatwave. The agency said the figures are still interim because there have been further heatwaves during the ongoing summer.

"Based on the interim data, it is likely that 2026 could see the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record, surpassing the 2,985 recorded in 2022," the UKHSA said. Dr Ross Thompson, Principal Environmental Public Health Scientist at UKHSA and author of the interim report, said: "These figures highlight the significant danger that very hot weather can pose to people's health. This is particularly true for those who are more vulnerable including older adults and people with underlying medical conditions." He added: "While the figures are interim, they suggest that, if we experience more periods of hot weather this summer, we could see the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record."

The June heatwave in the UK lasted eight days and led to a red heat-health alert. UKHSA said this was only the second time the highest level of alert had been issued in England. Both May and June also broke Met Office monthly temperature records for England, with 31.5 degrees Celsius recorded on May 26 and 37.7 degrees Celsius on June 26.

UKHSA said the findings showed the importance of the heat-health alert system run with the Met Office, which gives early warning when temperatures are likely to have a serious impact on health and wellbeing. It also cautioned that heatwaves earlier in the season can have a greater effect because people, communities and services have less time to adapt to warmer conditions.

The figures were released as many parts of the country remained under hosepipe bans to conserve water during exceptionally dry weather since earlier this year. The drought declaration for half of England followed continuing high temperatures and record-low rainfall.

UK Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The sweltering heat has had a serious impact this summer on people's health and on our NHS." She added: "For many years, we have been used to winter pressures in our NHS and the need to support those who are vulnerable in the coldest weather. But now we are seeing the summer heat have an increasingly serious impact on the health of thousands of people, and on the pressures facing our NHS too."

Beyond the UK, the World Meteorological Organisation said June saw much of western Europe experience a record-breaking heatwave, along with marine heatwaves across the western Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coasts. It said June 2026 was the hottest June recorded for western Europe and the second warmest globally, driven by the highest sea surface temperatures on record for the month. Overall, the interim UK data points to a summer in which extreme heat has already had a severe impact on health and public services.

With PTI Inputs

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