The UK, after battling with five heatwaves this summer, marks it as the hottest summer in nearly 150 years, the Met Office confirmed. According to the latest data released by the UK Met Office, there were 40 days of temperatures peaking at 30°C, breaking the previous record of 34 days. The hottest day of the summer was on August 13, when temperatures rose to 38.1°C at Kew Gardens.
Five heatwaves between May and August left large parts of the UK facing drought-like conditions, triggering wildfires and travel disruptions. The UK recorded an overall average temperature across the whole summer (June, July, and August) of 16.5°C, surpassing the previous summer record of 16.1°C set last year, per the Met Office.
Despite cooler weather at the end of August, high-pressure areas have dominated, with dry spells from continental Europe driving temperatures higher. Before 2026, temperatures of over 37°C had only been observed nine times in the UK - three of which have happened this year alone.
For context, the first heatwave that hit the UK in May also smashed that month's temperature record by over 2°C, while some areas of the UK experienced a three-week heatwave stretch in July and August. The UK's national meteorological service, the Met Office, had earlier predicted that the country was on track for its hottest summer on record as temperatures stayed high throughout the season.