June Heatwaves Intensify in UK and US Amid Climate Change Concerns
Published 24 June 2025
Highlights
- June heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense in both the UK and the US, attributed to climate change.
- The UK experienced its hottest June on record in 2023, with temperatures exceeding 30°C, particularly in south-east England.
- In the US, a rare June heatwave has prompted heat emergencies across the eastern states, with temperatures feeling as high as 126°F in New York City.
- High humidity levels are exacerbating the heat in the US, making it difficult for temperatures to cool down at night, posing significant public health risks.
- Climate scientists indicate that human-induced climate change has increased the likelihood of such extreme weather events.
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Rewritten Article
Headline: June Heatwaves Intensify in UK and US Amid Climate Change Concerns
As summer unfolds, both the UK and the US are grappling with unusually intense June heatwaves, underscoring the growing impact of climate change on global weather patterns. In the UK, the Met Office has reported a significant rise in June temperatures, with the south-east experiencing days above 30°C more frequently. This trend marks a stark contrast to pre-industrial times when such temperatures were a rarity.
According to World Weather Attribution, the likelihood of experiencing three consecutive June days above 28°C in south-east England has increased tenfold due to human-induced climate change. The year 2023 has already set a record for the hottest June in the UK, with the frequency of such heatwaves expected to rise as the climate continues to warm.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the eastern US is enduring a severe heatwave, with the National Weather Service issuing extreme heat warnings from the Carolinas to Maine. Temperatures have soared to 100°F (37°C) in parts of northern Virginia and New York, with high humidity levels making it feel even hotter. In New York City, the heat index reached a staggering 126°F, a rare occurrence for June.
The oppressive heat has prompted mayors in cities like Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Boston to declare heat emergencies, opening cooling centers to mitigate heat-related health risks. The National Weather Service has ranked this heatwave at the highest level on its heat risk scale, highlighting the danger posed by warm overnight temperatures.
Climate Central reports that the warming climate has made such extreme temperatures in New York City twice as likely, with warmer low temperatures four times more likely. This multi-day heat outbreak, which began in the Midwest, has already set new records for warm low temperatures in several cities.
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Scenario Analysis
As climate change continues to drive more frequent and intense heatwaves, both the UK and the US may need to adapt their infrastructure and public health strategies to mitigate the impacts. Experts suggest that urban areas, particularly those on the east coast of the US, may face increasing challenges due to their rapid warming rates. Policymakers might need to prioritize the development of heat-resilient infrastructure and expand access to cooling centers to protect vulnerable populations. Additionally, these developments could accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally, as the tangible impacts of climate change become increasingly difficult to ignore.
As summer unfolds, both the UK and the US are grappling with unusually intense June heatwaves, underscoring the growing impact of climate change on global weather patterns. In the UK, the Met Office has reported a significant rise in June temperatures, with the south-east experiencing days above 30°C more frequently. This trend marks a stark contrast to pre-industrial times when such temperatures were a rarity.
According to World Weather Attribution, the likelihood of experiencing three consecutive June days above 28°C in south-east England has increased tenfold due to human-induced climate change. The year 2023 has already set a record for the hottest June in the UK, with the frequency of such heatwaves expected to rise as the climate continues to warm.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the eastern US is enduring a severe heatwave, with the National Weather Service issuing extreme heat warnings from the Carolinas to Maine. Temperatures have soared to 100°F (37°C) in parts of northern Virginia and New York, with high humidity levels making it feel even hotter. In New York City, the heat index reached a staggering 126°F, a rare occurrence for June.
The oppressive heat has prompted mayors in cities like Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Boston to declare heat emergencies, opening cooling centers to mitigate heat-related health risks. The National Weather Service has ranked this heatwave at the highest level on its heat risk scale, highlighting the danger posed by warm overnight temperatures.
Climate Central reports that the warming climate has made such extreme temperatures in New York City twice as likely, with warmer low temperatures four times more likely. This multi-day heat outbreak, which began in the Midwest, has already set new records for warm low temperatures in several cities.
What this might mean
As climate change continues to drive more frequent and intense heatwaves, both the UK and the US may need to adapt their infrastructure and public health strategies to mitigate the impacts. Experts suggest that urban areas, particularly those on the east coast of the US, may face increasing challenges due to their rapid warming rates. Policymakers might need to prioritize the development of heat-resilient infrastructure and expand access to cooling centers to protect vulnerable populations. Additionally, these developments could accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally, as the tangible impacts of climate change become increasingly difficult to ignore.
