UK faces 50% odds of 40°C heat within 12 years, forcing infrastructure redesign

The UK's record-warm summers in 2025 and 2026 signal what's ahead: a 50% chance of 40°C days within 12 years, according to the Met Office. That timeframe aligns with infrastructure planning cycles, meaning grid operators and urban planners must now design for extreme heat as a baseline risk, not a rare event.