More than 2,700 deaths in UK linked to May, June heatwaves

The UK has experienced two record heatwaves this year, with temperatures in England reaching 35.1C in May and 37.7C in June.More than 2,700 deaths across England and Wales have been linked to unprecedented heatwaves in the United Kingdom in May and June, according to new research.There were 550 heat-related deaths between May 21 and 29, and nearly 2,200 people died between June 18 and 28, scientists estimated in the study published on Monday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Hottest June on record in France as heatwave deaths rise to alarming levelslist 2 of 3‘We have nothing to cool off with’: French heatwave exposes inequalitieslist 3 of 3Hottest June on record in Western Europe as heatwaves hit continentend of listResearchers from Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used weather data, climate models and studies on excess deaths during the extreme weather to arrive at their estimate.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it would publish its official estimate of heat-related deaths in the coming weeks, based on death records from recent heatwaves.Climate Change driving heatwavesThe UK and much of Europe have already experienced two record-breaking heatwaves this year, with temperatures in England reaching 35.1C (95.2F) in May and 37.7C (99.9F) in June.“They were extreme heatwaves for the UK, and for all parts of Western Europe, and they’re particularly exceptional for the timing and how early in the year they occurred,” said Mark McCarthy, the science manager at the Met’s climate attribution team.Scientists emphasised the role of Climate Change in making heatwaves more intense and frequent.They estimated that maximum daytime temperatures were up to 4C (7.2F) higher than they would have been without global warming.The Climate Change Committee (CCC), the body responsible for advising the British government on Climate Change, warned last year that the UK was “not ready” to deal with the consequences of Climate Change.