Britain logged its highest temperature for June on Wednesday (June 24), reaching 36.1 C in southern England as an early summer heat dome hovered over much of Western Europe.

It means a 50-year record had fallen as it surpasses the previous record of 35.6C set in 1976.

Britain's record reading followed only the second extreme heat warning ever issued. Hundreds of schools closed or shortened their day as officials warned that high temperatures could endanger even healthy people. The 36.1 C reported by the Met Office in Gosport in Hampshire edged above the previous June record of 35.6 C set in 1957 and matched in 1976.

Even London Climate Action Week was disrupted, with organisers cancelling an event on extreme heat because of the heat itself.

Rail passengers were advised to avoid non-essential journeys and more than 1,000 schools in England and Wales were shut or closed early.

This comes as a red warning for extreme heat in parts of England and Wales, lasting until 2259GMT on Thursday (June 25), has been extended to cover more of southern England.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 24, 2026) (BBC - No use UK)

1. VARIOUS OF ROOFERS LAYING SLABS ON ROOFTOP

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROOFER (NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING: (SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAID BY ROOFER CLIMBING LADDER)

"It affects you really badly actually because come lunchtime, sometimes, you've had enough."

3. VARIOUS OF ROOFERS LAYING SLABS ON ROOFTOP

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROOFER (NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING:

"Covered in dirt with suncream and dirt mixed in together. And obviously with having no shade, constantly taking breaks, your day does feel a lot longer than it would normally."

5. ROOFER DRINKING WATER

6. BOTTLE OF WATER ON PIPE / ROOFERS WORKING IN BACKGROUND

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 24, 2026) (BBC - No use UK)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMUTER (NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING: (SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAID BY COMMUTERS)

"Euston, St Pancras, and Victoria, yeah and it got cancelled. East Croydon and then just got kicked off here to Brighton. So I've given up. I'm getting an Uber."

BRISTOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 24, 2026) (BBC - No use UK)

8. CHILDREN WALKING TO SCHOOL

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCHOOLBOY MAX, SAYING:

REPORTER ASKING: "What would it have been like in your classroom?"

"Boiling hot, like all the doors, all the windows would be open, all the doors would be open. The fan would be on. But it would just still be boiling hot."

10. EXTERIOR OF SCHOOL BUILDING

11. OPEN WINDOW IN SCHOOL BUILDING