Summer 2026 expected to be declared UK's hottest on record
Provisional figures for June, July and August are due to be released on Tuesday afternoon and are likely to reveal that mean temperatures have broken the previous record set last year. The summer featured five widespread heatwaves and 40 days above 30C, smashing the previous record of 34 days. The highest temperature was 38.1C at Kew Gardens on 13 August. The heat is attributed to human-induced climate change, with the UK on the fastest-warming continent. Drought was declared in Wales and parts of England, and wildfires caused devastation. The second half of August brought cooler, wetter weather and some flash flooding.
What we know
Sheffield recorded over a month's worth of rain in the week of 24-30 August.
▤ 1 sources›
Drought was declared in all of Wales and more than two-thirds of England.
▤ 1 sources›
Mean temperatures are likely to have broken the previous record set in 2025.
▤ 1 sources›
The Met Office is expected to confirm the UK's hottest summer on record.
▤ 1 sources›
The highest temperature was 38.1C at Kew Gardens on 13 August.
▤ 1 sources›
Provisional figures for June, July and August are due on Tuesday.
▤ 1 sources›
Wildfires destroyed 19 homes in Stourbridge on the hottest day.
▤ 1 sources›
There were five widespread heatwaves and 40 days above 30C.
▤ 1 sources›
The Met Office is expected to confirm that the UK has had its hottest summer since records began in 1884, breaking the previous record set in 2025.
Preliminary · 1 sourcesLive reports
View allComments 0
Discuss this event in persistent threads. Live chat remains separate.
No comments yet. Start the conversation.