Summer 2026 on course to be UK's hottest on record, says Met Office
The UK is on track to record its hottest summer ever, with temperatures consistently exceeding historical averages due to climate change. The Met Office has issued multiple heat warnings as extreme heat events become more frequent.
Why it matters
It provides critical data on the accelerating impacts of climate change on regional weather patterns and public safety.
Image source, PA By Rachel Foley , BBC Weather and Mark Poynting , Climate and Science reporter Published 9 minutes ago This summer is on course to be the UK's hottest since records began, according to the Met Office.
Only average conditions are needed for the remainder of August to surpass the record set just last year .
Provisional Met Office statistics show that the UK's mean temperature for meteorological summer so far (1 June to 10 August) currently stands at 16.48C, which is 1.88C above the 1991-2020 average.
In summer 2025, the mean temperature across the country - which includes overnight lows as well as daytime highs - was 16.10C (60.98F).
It is in line with evidence that summers are getting hotter and drier because of climate change.
The summer of 2026 has already been extraordinary.
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