Researchers estimate that the heatwave covering England and Wales between May and June caused more than 2,700 deaths, warning that climate change is making heatwaves more severe and frequent.
On 13 July 2026 GMT+7, researchers from Imperial College London, in collaboration with the UK Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, revealed a study showing that the heatwave in England and Wales during May and June led to over 2,700 heat-related deaths.
The study estimates that the heatwave from 21 to 29 May caused around 550 deaths, while the major heatwave from 18 to 28 June resulted in nearly 2,200 additional deaths.
Researchers noted that the UK and several European countries faced two unusually severe heatwaves, with England recording a May high of 35.1°C and a June high of 37.7°C, both considered intense and arriving earlier than usual.
The study also indicates that climate change has intensified heatwaves and increased their frequency, with daytime peak temperatures about 3-4°C higher than expected due to global warming.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stated it will release official heatwave death figures in the coming weeks based on actual mortality data.
Meanwhile, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) warned that the UK remains unprepared for the impacts of global warming and projected that by 2050, up to 92% of English homes could experience excessive heat. The committee recommended that the government set temperature limits in workplaces and invest in air conditioning installation in public buildings such as hospitals and schools.