UK and Switzerland record hottest ever June day as health emergencies surge in Europe

The United Kingdom and Switzerland recorded their hottest-ever June temperatures on Thursday, June 25, 2026, as extreme heat conditions, amplified by the climate crisis, led to a third child's death in France and a surge in medical emergencies across Europe. The UK's provisional new high reached 36.4C (97.5F) in Yeovilton, Somerset, exceeding the previous day's record of 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, which itself broke the 1976 record of 35.6C in Southampton. In France, where three-quarters of the country is under an extreme heat alert, the intense heat has been linked to the death of a third toddler. Across Europe, hospitals reported a significant increase in patients presenting with heat-related illnesses, straining healthcare systems during the ongoing heatwave.