The UK has experienced its hottest summer on record this year, with an average daily maximum temperature reaching 21.3C. This figure is 2.4C above the average for the period between 1991 and 2020, driven by repeated heatwaves across most of the country.
Southern England and Wales recorded temperatures considerably higher than their usual averages. In contrast, Scotland and Northern Ireland saw temperatures closer to normal levels.
Rainfall across the UK was below average, with a total of 195mm falling on average. This represents a 23% reduction compared to the 1991-2020 summer average. Droughts were declared in much of the UK, with only north-western Scotland receiving more summer rain than usual.
The data for 2026 is provisional and may change slightly as more observations become available.