Oxford News
June heatwave would be ‘virtually impossible’ in 1976
The recent heatwave that has shattered records has intensified warnings about the pace and impact of climate change across Europe.
A rapid analysis conducted in response to the extreme hot and humid conditions affecting large parts of northern, western and central Europe has confirmed the event as the most severe heatwave ever recorded in the region.
June 2024 saw temperatures in the UK exceed records not seen since the summer of 1976, while France logged its hottest day on record and several other countries endured similar extremes, causing widespread disruption and placing pressure on public health systems.
June heatwave would be ‘virtually impossible’ in 1976
Dr Theodore Keeping, an extreme weather and wildfire researcher at Imperial College London, said: “The science of how climate change is worsening heatwaves is settled.
“Continued fossil fuel emissions are directly responsible for the disruption people are experiencing this week in their homes, schools and workplaces.”
The analysis by the World Weather Attribution group found that both daytime highs and overnight temperatures during the heatwave would have been virtually impossible at this time of year under the climate of 50 years ago.
A similar event occurring under those conditions would have been an estimated 3.5C cooler.
The researchers also found that the intense overnight heat, which has contributed to sleepless nights for many, is now about 100 times more likely than it was just 23 years ago during the deadly 2003 European heatwave.
Daytime temperature peaks are now around 10 times more likely.
Humidity has also emerged as a growing threat.
The summer of 1976 wasn’t just hot — it was relentless. ☀️🥵🇬🇧
People remember glorious beach weather and endless sunshine… but there was another side to it.
Reservoirs ran dry.
Grass turned to dust.
Livestock were fed winter straw.
Standpipes appeared in streets as families… pic.twitter.com/0Bi3BkUHgv— Benonwine (@benonwine) June 25, 2026
Nearly half (45%) of the 854 cities studied across 30 European countries have either broken or are expected to break their “wet bulb globe temperature” record – a measure of heat stress that accounts for the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating.
More than half the cities analysed in the UK and Ireland broke heat stress records during the heatwave.
This surge in temperatures has been fuelled by a “heat dome” – a blocked high-pressure system that traps hot air over Europe and draws up warm air from the Sahara.
A new record high temperature was set for June for the second day in a row on Thursday (June 25).
The Met Office said temperatures had reached 36.4C at Yeovilton, Somerset, provisionally making it the UK’s hottest June day on record.
The new high surpasses both the previous record set on Wednesday (June 24), when temperatures reached 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, and the long-standing record for June heat, which dates back to 1976.
Speed of climate change is ‘startling’
Researchers compared observed and forecast temperature data to identify the hottest three-day period of the heatwave and contrast it with similar events in a cooler climate.
Their findings point clearly to the role of climate change in making this heatwave possible.
Dr Keeping said: “The speed of change is startling.
“Every few years we are seeing heat records shattered in Europe.
“This year it has been in consecutive months.
“In the UK, we are used to ‘snow days’ shutting down schools, but this generation is now growing up with ‘heat days’ as well.”
Professor Friederike Otto, professor of climate science at Imperial College London, said: “Scientists like me are beginning to sound like a broken record.
“We put out similar quotes year after year, reacting to heat extremes that climb ever higher.
“Yes, this is climate change, yes it’s us, no it’s not El Niño, yes we have the solutions, no we’re not implementing them fast enough.
“It’s really now a question of what kind of future we want for ourselves, and whether we’re willing to do what it takes to secure it.”
Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said: “Extreme heat is shattering records across Europe, and the science is very clear about why: climate change is running rampant, caused by the world’s addiction to burning coal, oil and gas.
“But the solutions are equally clear: a faster shift to clean energy – which is now much cheaper than fossil fuels – as well as protecting forests and building climate resilience.
“We must step up the pace, together.”
How hot do you think it will get this year in the UK? Let us know in the comments.
The UK’s Met Office has revealed the storm names for 2026/27, selected from more than 40,000 public suggestions.
The scheme is run in partnership with Met Eireann in Ireland and KNMI in the Netherlands, and the list starts each year in September to reflect the beginning of the autumn storm season.
This storm season includes names such as Austen, Boelo and Chloe and each has a story behind its nomination.
Staying safe during a thunderstorm
Names were submitted in honour of children, pets and even characters like Shaun the Sheep, as well as in memory of loved ones and meteorological trailblazers.
Under naming conventions used for storms in the North Atlantic, the list runs alphabetically, missing out Q, U, X, Y and Z.
Chloe, the third name on the list this year, was nominated more than 120 times.
One suggestion came from the mother of a five-year-old described as being “fascinated by the weather” who can also “create a storm by herself” when tired.
Other names have similarly personal backstories.
Finn was put forward for a two-year-old described as “wild and a force to be reckoned with”, while Ivy was nominated in honour of a nine-month-old Labrador puppy affectionately called “the absolute destructor”.
Nicola was suggested as a tribute to a mother who has “weathered many a storm and only come out stronger”.
Some names reflect a wider cultural reach.
Shaun, selected following a public vote, was included as part of a collaboration with Aardman, the studio behind Wallace and Gromit, to help raise awareness of storm preparedness.
Scattered showers moving eastwards this afternoon, some heavy and perhaps thundery ☔
Turning drier and fresher in the west, with sunny spells ⛅
Cloud and rain returning to the northwest later 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/0s2Je7rraP
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 31, 2026
The list also honours figures in meteorological history.
Met Eireann chose Austen in tribute to Austen Nagle, the first director of the Irish Meteorological Service as it marks its 90th anniversary.
Evelyn was selected in honour of Evelyn Murphy, the first woman to present weather forecasts on Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTE.
Why are storms named?
The scheme began in 2015 and aims to improve public awareness and response in the face of severe weather.
Last year, four names were used from the list, reaching Storm Dave in April.
The UK was also affected by three additional storms named by other European meteorological services: Benjamin, Claudia and Goretti.
The Met Office said names are reviewed for pronunciation, potential meanings across different languages, connections to public figures and any risk of controversy.
When is a storm named?
A storm is named when it’s expected to cause medium or high impacts in the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands.
Wind is the primary consideration, but significant effects from rain or snow are also taken into account.
Met Office confirms storm names for 2026/27
This year’s names, and the country they came from, are:
- Austen (Ireland)
- Boelo (pronounced Boo-loh) (Netherlands)
- Chloe (UK)
- Dano (pronounced Dah-noh) (Netherlands)
- Evelyn (Ireland)
- Finn (UK)
- Gwendolyn (Netherlands)
- Heather (Ireland)
- Ivy (UK)
- Jade (Netherlands)
- Kilian (Ireland)
- Laoise (pronounced Lee-sha) (Ireland)
- Miriam (Ireland)
- Nicola (UK)
- Olaf (Netherlands)
- Phelim (Fay-lim) (Ireland)
- Ruban (UK)
- Shaun (UK)
- Theo (UK)
- Vesna (Vehs-nuh) (Netherlands)
- Wende (Vhen-duh) (Netherlands)
Holly Clements, Met Office head of warnings and guidance, said: “For more than a decade, storm naming has helped us communicate the risks from severe weather more effectively.
“A named storm provides a clear focus for forecasts and warnings, helping more people understand the potential impacts and take action to protect themselves, their families and their property.”
Recommended reading:
Eoin Sherlock, Met Eireann head of forecasting division, said: “We know that naming storms makes it easier for people to track important and up-to-date forecast and safety-related information as we can see from the levels of traffic and activity through our website and across social media platforms during storm events.
“2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Irish Meteorological Service and we are proud to be able to recognise some of the significant contributors to our history in the list of storm names this year.”
Which names would you add to the list of storm names? Let us know in the comments below.
Charlie Matthews appeared at Oxford Crown Court on August 27.
The 25-year-old is charged with two counts of rape.
The allegations are said to have taken place in Oxford in April and October 2021.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire data centres call to ‘pause’ expansion
The complainant for both counts is the same woman.
Matthews, of Langney Road, Eastbourne, pleaded not guilty to both counts.
A trial date, with a time estimate of four to five days, was set for August 21, 2028.
Judge Ian Pringle KC said that this is some seven years after the offences are alleged to have taken place.
The judge said: “Unfortunately, that’s the situation.”
Matthews was released on bail, with the condition not to contact the complainant.
Islandfarm Viscount is a 13-year-old gelding from Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell near Wallingford.
He took the top title at the 2026 Donkey Breed Society National Championship Show, held on August 22 at Pickering Grange Equestrian Centre in Coalville.
He is the offspring of East Lodge Bryony, a donkey left to the sanctuary by the late Alex and Sue Horn.
Mr Horn was a respected figure in donkey showing and won numerous awards during his lifetime.
Viscount has built an impressive record of his own, with championship wins at the Mid Somerset Show and the New Forest and Hampshire Show.
He was named Reserve Champion at the Ellingham and Ringwood Show, placing just behind stablemate Perehill Magical Moments.
Both donkeys qualified for the national finals, where Viscount claimed the Senior Gelding Class and went on to be named British Champion Gelding for the fifth year in a row.
He then competed against other class winners and took home the Supreme Champion title and trophy.
Perehill Magical Moments earned her place at the finals after wins at the Heckinton Show and Ellingham and Ringwood.
At the national event, she won the Senior Mare class and was named Reserve Mare Champion.
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