UKHSA Reports 2,877 Excess Deaths Linked to May and June Heatwaves in England

A rapid early assessment by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates 2,877 heat-associated deaths occurred during two significant periods of hot weather in May and June 2026. This figure is nearly double the 1,504 excess deaths reported for summer 2025, with 753 deaths linked to the May heat episode and 2,124 to the June heatwave. The UKHSA warns that 2026 could see the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record.