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UK Summer Smashes Heat Records, Climate Change Blamed
1 Sep
Summary
- Britain's hottest summer on record surpassed previous highs.
- Climate change made this hot summer 130 times more likely.
- Thousands of deaths were linked to recent heatwaves.
Britain's summer of 2026 has been officially declared the hottest on record, breaking temperature records that were only set the previous year. The Met Office reported a mean average temperature of 16.5 Celsius (61.7 Fahrenheit), surpassing the 2025 record of 16.1 C (61 F).
This extreme heat, coupled with little rainfall and destructive wildfires, has been directly linked to human-induced climate change. Scientists estimate that such a hot summer is now 130 times more likely due to greenhouse gas emissions.
The consequences have been severe, with the U.K. Health Security Agency estimating that 2,877 deaths in England were associated with heatwaves in May and June alone. The peak temperature reached 38.1 C (100.6 F) in London on August 13, marking the hottest day of the year.
While England, Wales, and Northern Ireland experienced record-breaking summer temperatures, Scotland remained cooler. Significant portions of Wales and England are currently under drought conditions, underscoring the widespread impact of this unprecedented heat.
