The Met Office is expected to announce on Tuesday afternoon that the UK has experienced its hottest summer since records began in 1884. Provisional figures for June, July, and August are likely to show that mean temperatures have exceeded the previous record, which was set in 2025.
This summer featured five widespread heatwaves and 40 days where temperatures reached above 30C (86F), surpassing the previous record of 34 days. The highest temperature recorded was 38.1C (100.6F) at Kew Gardens in London on 13 August.
While England and Wales are anticipated to set new summer temperature records, Northern Ireland is expected to come close, but Scotland will not. Despite a cooler and wetter end to August in some areas, overall temperatures largely remained around or above the seasonal norm.