EUROPE HEATWAVE LIVE: UK SEES TEMPERATURES OF 38.1C, THE HOTTEST DAY OF 2026; GREECE BATTLES WILDFIRES AFTER GALE FORCE WINDS

The United Kingdom recorded a new 2026 high of 38.1 °C on a single day, marking it as the hottest day of the year amid a fifth consecutive summer heatwave. Simultaneously, Greece is battling wildfires after gale‑force winds have swept the country.

According to Climate crisis | The Guardian, a former UK government scientific adviser warned that the heatwave was ‘shattering’ and that conditions could worsen. The Met Office updated temperatures across the UK early in the morning, noting that several stations had already surpassed 30 °C before 11 a.m. – 30.4 °C in Wych Cross, 30.3 °C in Charlwood and 30.2 °C at Kenly Airfield. Greek authorities report escalating fire activity as high winds continue to fan the blaze.

These extreme temperatures reflect the growing intensity of summer heatwaves linked to climate change, and the wildfires in Greece underscore the broader threat of high‑wind conditions to fire management.

• UK reached a record 38.1 °C, the hottest day of 2026, during a fifth consecutive heatwave.
• Met Office data shows multiple stations above 30 °C before 11 a.m., with Wych Cross at 30.4 °C.
• Greek wildfires are intensifying due to gale‑force winds, highlighting regional fire risks.

Read the original source for full detail available at Climate crisis | The Guardian src