2022 United Kingdom heatwaves

The 2022 United Kingdom heatwaves were part of several heatwaves across Europe and North Africa. The United Kingdom experienced three heatwaves; the first was for three days in June, the second for three days in July, and the third for six days in August. Climatologists say the extreme heat was due to climate change. 2022 was the UK's warmest year since records began in 1884, with an average annual temperature above 10 °C (50 °F) for the first time.^[1] The 2022 heatwaves contributed to the death of nearly 3000 people, most of whom were 65 years or older.^[2][3]

There were also more grass fires and wildfires than average, and in August a drought was declared in many regions. There were nearly 25,000 wildfires across the country.^[4]

The Met Office issued its first red warning for extreme heat on 8 July, which affected all of central and southern England and was in place for 18 and 19 July.^[5] On 15 July, it declared a national emergency after the red warning was put in place. On 19 July, a record temperature of 40.3 °C (104.5 °F) was recorded and verified by the Met Office in Coningsby, England, breaking the previous record set in 2019 of 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in Cambridge, England.^[6]