# UK records hottest day of year at 38.1 degrees Celsius 2026-08-13T17:52:33+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets The UK recorded its hottest day of the year on Thursday, with the Met Office reporting a temperature of 38.1 degrees Celsius in west London, surpassing the previous high of 38°C set on June 28. Britain is experiencing its fifth heatwave of the summer, alongside France, where temperatures are forecast to reach 40°C in central and southern areas. The prolonged heat has exacerbated drought conditions, with Southern Water seeking a rare drought order to ban non-essential water use in parts of England. Hospitals have struggled, with nurses collapsing from heat exhaustion, according to the Royal College of Nursing. Wildfires remain a threat, with 1,017 recorded in England and Wales this year, matching last year's record. Firefighters have contained a blaze in the New Forest. ## Coverage - economictimes.indiatimes.com - indiatvnews.com Tags: climate change, Europe drought, UK heatwave, water shortage, wildfires Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/uk-records-hottest-day-of-year-at-38-1c-fifth-heatwave/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/uk-records-hottest-day-of-year-at-38-1c-fifth-heatwave/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.