Study links more than 2,700 UK deaths to spring heatwaves
A rapid analysis published Monday estimates that more than 2,700 people in England and Wales died during two heatwaves this spring — about 550 deaths over May 21-29 and nearly 2,200 over June 18-28. The work was carried out by researchers at Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The team estimated that maximum daytime temperatures during the events were up to 4C (7.2F) higher than they would have been without global warming, concluding that climate change sharply raised the death toll. England hit 35.1C (95.2F) in May and 37.7C (99.9F) in June. The findings are a modelled estimate; the UK Health Security Agency is expected to publish official heat-related death figures in the coming weeks.
The numbers fit a broader European pattern this summer, with more than 10,650 excess deaths recorded across the continent over June 22-28, most among people aged 65 and older.