England experienced its warmest June since records began in 1884, with a provisional average temperature of 17.1C, according to the Met Office. This surpasses the previous record of 16.9C set in 2025, making the top three warmest Junes all occurring this decade: 2026, 2025, and 2023 (16.7C).
UK-wide temperatures and heatwave details
The UK mean temperature for June was 15.6C, second only to 15.8C in 2023. A severe heatwave from June 21-27 saw temperatures exceed 30C somewhere in the UK for seven consecutive days. A provisional peak of 37.7C was recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 26, the highest June temperature ever recorded, surpassing the previous record of 35.6C set in 1957 and 1976.
Additionally, a new June record for highest overnight minimum temperature was set at Cardiff Bute Park, where temperatures did not drop below 23.5C on June 25.
Regional records and impacts
Wales recorded its second warmest June with a mean of 15.9C, behind 16.2C in 2023. Scotland and Northern Ireland both saw their joint fourth warmest June. The extreme heat prompted the Met Office to issue a rare red warning for extreme heat for much of southern England and south-east Wales, lasting three consecutive days—the longest such alert on record.
The heatwave led to several hospitals declaring critical incidents, train service cancellations, court disruptions, and school and nursery closures. The London Ambulance Service reported a record number of life-threatening emergency call-outs. A hosepipe ban was introduced in Kent due to surging water demand.
Climate change attribution
Dr. Emily Carlisle of the Met Office stated: "June's high temperatures are part of a broader pattern of warmth during 2026. So far, five of the first six months of the year have recorded mean temperatures at least 1C above average, with only January seeing below-average temperatures."
Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group found that a similar heatwave in 1976 would have been 3.5C cooler, indicating that human-induced climate change has made such events more likely and intense. Professor Stephen Belcher, Met Office chief scientist, said: "Human induced climate change has made events like this more likely and more intense. To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering."
Record-breaking year continues
2026 has already seen the highest May temperature on record (35.1C on May 26 at Kew Gardens) and the warmest spring on record for England and Wales. June sunshine totals were above average for the UK, England, and Wales, though high humidity caused hazier skies, limiting sunshine. Scotland and Northern Ireland had below-average sunshine. Despite the heat, June was wetter than average due to low-pressure systems earlier in the month.
