England Records Nearly 3,000 Heatwave-Related Deaths in May and June

An estimated 2,877 excess deaths occurred in England during heatwaves in May and June, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This figure is nearly double the total of 1,504 recorded for the entire summer of 2025. Provisional data suggests that 2026 could see the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record, potentially surpassing the previous peak of 2,985 deaths in 2022.

The mortality figures include 753 extra deaths in May and 2,124 in June. This period coincided with England's hottest June since records began in 1884. Temperature peaks included 38 degrees Celsius in Lingwood, Norfolk on June 26 and 31.5 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens on May 26.

Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper noted that while the UK is accustomed to winter health pressures, summer heat is now having an increasingly serious impact on thousands of people and the NHS. The London Ambulance Service reported its highest number of life-threatening emergencies in history during June; specifically, crews responded to nearly 3,600 patients on June 24.

Environmental reports indicate that record low rainfall and high temperatures have left over half of England affected by drought. This condition impacts up to 28 million people across regions including London, East Anglia, and the West Midlands.

The Climate Change Committee has urged the government to prepare for hotter summers through investments in air conditioning for public buildings and the implementation of maximum temperature limits in workplaces. Dr Ross Thompson of the UKHSA added that periods of hot weather are expected to become longer and more extreme as the climate warms.