Summer of 2026 was UK’s hottest on record, Met Office says
Summary
The summer of 2026 was the hottest ever recorded in the UK, with an average temperature of 16.5°C. The Met Office said climate change made such extreme heat about 130 times more likely, and the hot, dry weather caused serious impacts like wildfires and school closures.Key Facts
- The UK’s summer average temperature in 2026 was 16.5°C, the highest since records began in 1884.
- England reached a top temperature of 38.1°C (100.1°F) on August 13 at Kew Gardens in London.
- England, Wales, and Northern Ireland set new records for mean summer temperatures; Scotland had its joint-sixth warmest summer.
- Climate change caused by burning fossil fuels made this summer’s heat around 130 times more likely.
- July 2026 was England’s driest July ever recorded, with only 6.5mm of rain, much lower than previous records.
- Extreme heat and drought led to major wildfires, destroying homes and natural areas, including near a nuclear plant.
- Across Europe, the heatwaves contributed to at least 35,000 extra deaths during the summer.
- Scientists expect UK summers to keep getting hotter and drier as global temperatures rise.
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