An estimated 2,700 people died in England and Wales as a result of extreme heat during May and June this year, according to a new scientific study released on Monday.
The research was conducted by experts from Imperial College London, the UK Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who analysed weather data, climate models and excess mortality records linked to heatwave events.
The United Kingdom and much of Western Europe experienced two unprecedented heatwaves during May and June, with England recording monthly temperature highs of 35.1°C in May and 37.7°C in June.
“It was an extreme heatwave for the UK and across Western Europe. It was highly unusual and arrived earlier than expected,” said Mark McCarthy, Science Manager of the Met Office’s Climate Attribution Team, as quoted in the study.
Researchers estimated that around 550 people died during the heatwave between 21 and 29 May, while a further 2,200 deaths were linked to the second heatwave that struck between 18 and 28 June in England and Wales.
The study also concluded that maximum daytime temperatures were 3°C to 4°C higher than they would have been without the influence of human-induced global warming, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
The researchers said the findings underscore the increasing public health risks posed by rising global temperatures and the need for stronger measures to protect vulnerable communities during periods of extreme heat.
