Just how hot and dry was your summer? – UK postcode lookup
13 hours ago
- Summer 2026 was the hottest on record in the UK, with above-average temperatures and repeated heatwaves across most regions.
- Rainfall was 23% below average, leading to droughts declared across much of the UK, except northwestern Scotland.
- Human-caused climate change made the summer's average temperature approximately 130 times more likely, and rising temperatures worsen drought effects.
- The data comes from the HadUK Grid dataset (Met Office Hadley Centre), providing 1km grid estimates for temperature and rainfall.
- Average daily maximum temperature was 21.3°C, 2.4°C above the 1991–2020 average, with southern England and Wales experiencing the greatest heat.
- UK summers are expected to become drier on average due to climate change, though individual years may vary.
- Scientists warn that average temperatures will continue to rise as long as greenhouse gas emissions persist.