LONDON: The UK recorded its hottest day of the year Thursday, reaching 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in west London, the national weather service said, as an intense stretch of hot weather continued to grip Europe. The Met Office said the temperature surpassed this year’s previous high of 38 C (100.4 F), recorded on June 28. It remained below the UK’s August record of 38.5 C (101.3 F), set in 2003. Britain, like France, is experiencing its fifth heat wave of the year.

Globally, so far this is the third-hottest year, behind 2024 and 2025, climate statistics show.

Large parts of Europe will be sweltering once again, with Britain poised for its fifth heat wave of an exceptional summer that is expected to be the hottest on record.