The United Kingdom has recorded its hottest summer in nearly 150 years, with five heatwaves between May and August pushing temperatures to record levels, according to the UK Met Office.
New data released by the Met Office shows that the UK experienced 40 days with temperatures reaching 30°C or higher this summer, surpassing the previous record of 34 days.
The hottest day of the summer came on August 13, when temperatures reached 38.1°C at Kew Gardens in London.
UK summer temperature breaks previous record
The average temperature across the UK during June, July and August was recorded at 16.5°C, exceeding the previous summer record of 16.1°C set in 2025, according to the Met Office.
The unusually hot summer was marked by five separate heatwaves, which contributed to drought-like conditions, wildfires and travel disruptions across parts of the country.
Although temperatures became cooler toward the end of August, prolonged periods of high pressure helped maintain dry conditions and allowed warm air from continental Europe to push temperatures higher.
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More extreme heat recorded in 2026
The summer of 2026 also saw an unusual number of extreme temperature events.
Before this year, temperatures above 37°C had been recorded only nine times across the UK. Three of those instances occurred in 2026 alone.
The first major heatwave in May also broke the month’s temperature record by more than 2°C. Parts of the country subsequently experienced another prolonged period of extreme heat lasting around three weeks across July and August.
The Met Office had previously warned that the UK was on course for its hottest summer on record, provided temperatures remained around average during the final weeks of August.
The latest figures have now confirmed that summer 2026 set a new UK temperature record, highlighting another season of unusually persistent heat across the country.
