The UK experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, according to provisional Met Office figures, breaking the previous record set in 2025 after months of relentless heat.
Key facts
- Summer 2026 was the UK's hottest on record, according to provisional Met Office data.
- The season's average mean temperature was 16.5C, breaking the record set in 2025.
- Temperatures peaked at 38.1C (100.1F) at Kew Gardens in London on 13 August.
- The UK saw five widespread heatwaves and 40 days above 30C (86F), beating the previous record of 34 days.
- Meteorologists say the season's mean temperature was made 130 times more likely by the climate crisis.
The summer of 2026 was the hottest on record in the UK, according to provisional Met Office data reported by the BBC and the Guardian. The figures show that the previous record, set only a year earlier in 2025, has been broken following what forecasters described as an unprecedented season of persistent heat.
According to the Guardian, meteorologists recorded an average mean temperature of 16.5C over the season. They said this figure was made 130 times more likely as a result of the climate crisis, which scientists attribute to the burning of fossil fuels.
The season was marked by extreme peaks. In England, temperatures reached 38.1C (100.1F) at Kew Gardens in London on 13 August, the Guardian reported. June had already been confirmed as the country’s hottest since records began in 1884.
The BBC reported that the UK endured a spring and summer of persistent heat, with five widespread heatwaves and 40 days of temperatures above 30C (86F). That total smashed the previous record of 34 days.
The record-breaking heat was not confined to the UK. According to the Guardian, the summer saw record-breaking and back-to-back heatwaves scorch much of Europe. Scientists quoted by the outlet said such heatwaves are only possible because of the climate crisis driven by burning fossil fuels.
The Met Office figures released on Tuesday confirmed earlier expectations. Ahead of the announcement, the BBC had reported that the data was likely to show the 2025 record had been broken after the season’s sustained heat.
Why it matters
The UK breaking its heat record for a second consecutive year highlights how quickly extreme temperatures are becoming the norm. Scientists link the season directly to the climate crisis driven by fossil fuels, underscoring the human and environmental risks of a warming climate.
Frequently asked questions
How hot was summer 2026 in the UK?
The season had an average mean temperature of 16.5C, according to provisional Met Office data reported by the Guardian. Temperatures peaked at 38.1C (100.1F) at Kew Gardens in London on 13 August.
Was climate change linked to the record heat?
Yes. Meteorologists said the season's mean temperature was made 130 times more likely as a result of the climate crisis, which scientists attribute to the burning of fossil fuels.
How many heatwaves did the UK experience?
The BBC reported five widespread heatwaves and 40 days of temperatures above 30C (86F), beating the previous record of 34 days.