England: More than 2,700 deaths across England and Wales have been linked to the unprecedented heatwaves that struck the United Kingdom in May and June, according to a new scientific study published.
Researchers estimate that the extreme temperatures caused 550 heat-related deaths between May 21 and 29, followed by nearly 2,200 more fatalities between June 18 and 28. The study was conducted by researchers from Imperial College London, the UK Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Using weather observations, climate models and historical data on excess mortality during periods of extreme heat, the researchers assessed the likely impact of the two heatwaves on public health.
The heat continues this week, and it may be enough to spark off some thunderstorms ☀️🌡️⚡
Here’s what you need to know 👇 pic.twitter.com/tK7Y5ioKpY
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 12, 2026
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it will release its official estimate of heat-related deaths in the coming weeks after reviewing death records collected during the recent periods of extreme weather. The UK and much of Western Europe have experienced two exceptionally early and intense heatwaves this year. England recorded temperatures of 35.1°C in May and 37.7°C in June, making them among the hottest early summer conditions ever observed in the country.
Mark McCarthy, Science Manager at the Met Office’s Climate Attribution Team, said the heatwaves were highly unusual both in their intensity and timing, noting that such extreme temperatures occurring so early in the year are exceptionally rare for the UK and much of Western Europe.
Scientists involved in the research stressed that climate change played a significant role in making the heatwaves more severe. Their analysis found that maximum daytime temperatures during the events were up to 4°C higher than they would have been without human-induced global warming.
The findings reinforce growing concerns about the UK’s preparedness for increasingly frequent extreme weather events. The Climate Change Committee (CCC), the independent body advising the British government on climate policy, warned last year that the country remains inadequately prepared to cope with the impacts of rising temperatures.
Lea Berrang Ford, from the UKHSA’s Centre for Climate and Health Security, said the latest research highlights the growing health risks posed by extreme heat and demonstrates how climate change is becoming an increasingly serious threat to public wellbeing.
In a report released in May, the CCC estimated that as many as 92 percent of British homes could become dangerously hot by 2050 if adaptation measures are not implemented. The committee recommended introducing maximum workplace temperature limits and increasing investment in cooling systems for public facilities, including hospitals, schools and care homes, to better protect vulnerable populations during future heatwaves.
The UK findings come with broader concerns across Europe. Data from EuroMOMO, a mortality monitoring network supported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization, showed that more than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across Europe during the late June heatwave. Of the estimated 10,650 excess deaths between June 22 and 28, around 9,000 occurred among people aged 65 and older, highlighting the disproportionate impact of extreme heat on elderly populations.
Researchers concluded that, in the absence of other major contributing factors such as COVID-19 outbreaks, the severe heatwave was the most likely driver behind the sharp increase in mortality across the continent. The findings add to mounting evidence that climate change is increasing both the frequency and severity of extreme heat events, posing growing risks to public health and underscoring the urgent need for stronger climate adaptation strategies.
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