About our UK Heatwave news
Latest news on heatwaves in the United Kingdom, including the next UK heatwave, forecasts for UK heatwaves and the impact of heatwaves in Great Britain.
The UK experienced a record-breaking heatwave in June and July 2022, with temperatures reaching over 40°C in some parts of the country. The heatwave caused widespread discomfort, health risks, transport disruptions, and environmental impacts.
The Met Office said that the heatwave bore the "fingerprint of climate change", as human-induced global warming made such extreme temperatures more likely and more intense. A study by the Met Office and Imperial College London found that climate change increased the likelihood of the heatwave by at least 10 times and its intensity by 1.5°C.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC), which is the government's adviser on climate change, said that the UK was not doing enough to prepare for the impacts of climate change, such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires. The CCC said that the UK needed to adapt its buildings, infrastructure, health services, and natural environment to cope with rising temperatures and extreme weather events.