Archive · 1 Sep 2026
UK Records Hottest Summer Since 1884 Amid Heat and Drought
Britain had its hottest summer since official records began in 1884.
The Met Office measured the summer’s average temperature at 16.5°C.
This means the country was warmer overall than in any earlier recorded summer.
It was also the second year in a row that Britain set a summer temperature record.
The season included very intense heat.
Britain also experienced drought conditions.
The figures are provisional, which means they could still be checked or updated.
The Met Office announced the results on Tuesday.
Britain had its hottest summer since records began in 1884, provisional Met Office statistics show.
The summer’s average mean temperature was 16.5°C.
It was the warmest summer on record for the second consecutive year.
The season was marked by intense heat and drought.
The Met Office published the provisional statistics on Tuesday.
- Who
- The Met Office reported the statistics, covering Britain.
- What
- Britain recorded its hottest summer since 1884, with an average mean temperature of 16.5°C.
- When
- The statistics were published on Tuesday; the summer was the second consecutive record-breaking summer.
- Where
- Britain.
- Why
- The record followed a season of intense heat and drought.
- Record
- Hottest summer in Britain since records began
- Records began
- 1884
- Average mean temperature
- 16.5°C
- Record sequence
- Warmest summer on record for the second year in a row
- Conditions
- Intense heat and drought
- Data status
- Provisional
- Source
- Met Office