Britain reached its hottest day of the summer Thursday with a temperature of 38.1 C in west London, breaking this year's previous high. Temperatures in France have gone even higher, approaching 41 C in several areas. The UK is experiencing its fifth heat wave of the year and has now had four days with temperatures of 36 C or higher. Britain's lack of air conditioning and aging hospital buildings are exacerbating the effects of the heat on residents, particularly nurses who have collapsed from heat exhaustion while working.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Thursday, the U.K. recorded its hottest day of the year with a temperature of 38.1 C in west London, surpassing this year's previous high of 38 C set on June 26. This heat wave is part of a fifth extreme heat event to hit Britain and France since May, with temperatures reaching as high as 41 C in some areas of France. The intense heat has caused problems for nurses working in hospitals, with many experiencing heat exhaustion due to inadequate cooling in aging buildings. This summer has seen a record four days with temperatures above 36 C, matching 2022's count of two days reaching 38 C.
Written for “European Heat Wave Continues” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
U.K. sees its hottest day of the summer as western Europe suffers through another heat wave
Britain and France swelter under 5th heat wave with no end to drought in sight
The U.K. recorded its hottest day of the year Thursday, reaching 38.1 C in west London, the national weather service said, as an intense stretch of hot weather continued to grip Europe.
asserted
stretch → see → Europe
The Met Office said the temperature surpassed this year's previous high of 38 C recorded on June 26.
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temperature → say → June
It remained below the U.K.'s August record of 38.5 C set in 2003.
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It → remain → 2003
Britain, like France, is experiencing its fifth heat wave of the year, with the first recorded in May.
uncertain
first → experience → May
The latest extreme heat means 2026 has now had a record four days with temperatures of 36 C or higher.
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2026 → mean → C
It also has matched 2022 with two days reaching 38 C.
Temperatures in France, meanwhile, have gone even higher, approaching 41 C in several areas, from Aquitaine in the southwest to the Rhone River valley in the east, according to the national weather service.
uncertain
Temperatures → match → service
The most intense heat is forecast to move eastward away from Britain and France on Friday and then recede over the weekend.
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heat → forecast → weekend
This summer has shown that both Britain and France are ill-equipped to deal with these levels of heat.
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Britain → show → heat
In Britain, nurses have collapsed from heat exhaustion while working in hospitals, many housed in aging buildings that lack adequate cooling, the Royal College of Nursing said Thursday.
"When nursing staff are collapsing, feeling dizzy, sick or even being admitted to the very hospitals they work in because their workplaces cannot handle the heat, it shows just how badly they are being failed," said Nicola Ranger, the college's chief executive and general secretary.
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Ranger → collapse → heat
Like many parts of Europe, Britain and France are facing widespread drought conditions that have shrivelled crops and drained rivers, heaping pressure on water resources for households, agriculture and the environment.
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that → face → households
Britain's Southern Water, which oversees supplies in the south of England, has applied for a rare drought order that would ban businesses from non-essential water use, including cleaning cars and filling non-domestic swimming pools, saying an "exceptional" lack of rain has threatened supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
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lack → oversee → Wight
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will decide on the application, which would be the first such ban since May 2006.
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which → decide → May
With the land parched and no sign of any meaningful rain coming, authorities in Britain and France remain on high alert for wildfires.
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authorities → parch → wildfires
In Britain, which is increasingly looking sandy brown rather than its traditional luscious green, firefighters have been out in force this week trying to contain a wildfire in the New Forest in southern England.
Some 1,017 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales this year, according to data from the National Fire Chiefs Council, the same as last year's record-breaking total.
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wildfires → look → total
Though not on the same level as those witnessed in France, Greece and Spain, they provide ample evidence of the need for the U.K. to adjust to a new reality.
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U.K. → witness → reality
British PM considers BBQ ban
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he will consider imposing a ban on disposable barbecues amid the risk of further wildfires as extreme heat continues to grip parts of the U.K.
"I do believe we need to get the message out loud and clear," he said.
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he → consider → message
"People should not be using those barbecues outside at this moment in time."
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People → use → time
Sunken Nazi warships are resurfacing as Europe's drought deepens
Britain's 'exceptionally serious' drought tests a country famous for its rain
French firefighters were back in action, too, after a desperate summer and are threatening to go on strike to demand more staff and resources to cope with increasingly extreme weather events.
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firefighters → resurface → events
One broke out late Wednesday in the northern Pas-de-Calais region, and another in Brittany, far from the hotter, drier and more fire-prone regions in southern France.
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One → break → France
A historic fire devoured forests near Bordeaux last month and pushed a quarter of a million people from their homes.
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fire → devour → homes
