Extreme heat Red warning for south-east England after record June heat, as France braces for more stifling temperatures – Europe heatwave live First time red warnings issued in UK for three consecutive days; Paris to ban drinking alcohol in public as hospitals reach ‘saturation point’ European heatwave is worst ever and impossible without climate crisis, scientists say Paris to ban drinking alcohol in public as hospitals hit heatwave breaking point LIVE Updated 31m ago Jakub Krupa (now) and Taz Ali (earlier) Fri 26 Jun 2026 07.47 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jun 2026 08.04 BST Share Key events 21m ago Welcome The UK has seen temperatures break June records dating back to the infamous summer of 1976, while France has recorded its hottest day ever and temperatures have soared elsewhere in Europe, with widespread disruption and pressure on people’s health.
Photograph: Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/Shutterstock The UK has seen temperatures break June records dating back to the infamous summer of 1976, while France has recorded its hottest day ever and temperatures have soared elsewhere in Europe, with widespread disruption and pressure on people’s health.
Photograph: Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Key events 21m ago Welcome The UK Met Office has extended a red heat alert into Friday for a large area of south-east England, the first time such warnings have been issued for three days in a row.
The red warning is in place until 9pm for London, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire and Kent.
Amber heat warnings are in place for a wider area on Friday, and are running into Saturday for parts of east and south-east England.
On Friday, swathes of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland face yellow warnings for thunderstorms.
A weather warning for thunderstorms and heavy rain is in place across Scotland for the entirety of Friday, following days of baking temperatures.
Temperatures reached 31.2C at Threave in Dumfries and Galloway on Thursday, according to Met Office data.
However, the weather is set to change dramatically as rainier conditions sweep in from the north-west.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued flood alerts for every area of Scotland other than Shetland.
In Europe, France is braced for more stifling heat.
From noon, Paris will begin a ban on drinking alcohol in public for certain times of the day.
