Meteorological autumn has begun, bringing an end to a remarkable summer across the UK.
As attention turns to autumn and the start of a new storm season, it's also an opportunity to reflect on what made this summer so extraordinary and look ahead to what the coming months could bring.
The UK's hottest summer on record
Summer 2026 has provisionally become the UK's warmest summer on record, with a mean temperature of 16.5°C. That surpasses the previous record, which was set only last year, by 0.4°C.
The most exceptional warmth was experienced across England and Wales, where seasonal temperatures were more than 2°C above average in many areas. Farther north and west, the anomalies were generally smaller, with parts of northwestern Scotland experiencing temperatures closer to average. Nevertheless, Northern Ireland, England and Wales all recorded their warmest summers on record.
While summer began with some relatively unremarkable conditions, the season was punctuated by a series of significant heatwaves. Very high temperatures developed at the end of June, followed by prolonged hot weather through much of July and additional hot spells during August. Although there were occasional cooler interludes, several periods were notably hot by historical standards.
Dry conditions leave their mark
Alongside the record warmth came a notably dry summer for many parts of the UK. While it was not the driest summer on record, many areas received less than half of their average seasonal rainfall.
Rainfall totals were closer to average during the first few weeks of the season, but conditions became significantly drier through much of July. In some locations, lengthy runs without measurable rainfall developed. Wisley, for example, experienced more than 60 consecutive days without rain being recorded. Although wetter conditions returned in recent weeks, they were not enough to offset the rainfall deficits accumulated earlier in the season.
The impacts of the prolonged dry weather were widely felt. Drought declarations, hosepipe restrictions and wildfires affected several areas, while farmers and gardeners faced increasingly challenging conditions as soils continued to dry out.
READ MORE: August 2026 weather stats: A regional breakdown
A tale of two halves for August sunshine
August continued the warm theme established earlier in the summer, although temperatures were generally less exceptional than those seen during June and July.
Sunshine statistics highlighted a particularly striking north-south contrast. Northern Ireland recorded its ninth-cloudiest August on record, while parts of southern England experienced exceptionally sunny conditions.
Climate change and summer 2026
Met Office scientists have also been examining just how unusual this summer was through a rapid attribution study. The analysis found that a summer like 2026 has become around 130 times more likely in today's climate than it would have been without human-induced climate change.
The study suggests that what would once have been considered an extremely rare event has become significantly more likely in the current climate. Looking further ahead, summers with temperatures similar to those experienced in 2026 could become increasingly common as global temperatures continue to rise.
A new storm season begins
The arrival of meteorological autumn on 1 September also marks the start of the 2026/27 storm-naming season. Storm names are used to help communicate the risks associated with potentially impactful weather, particularly when strong winds, heavy rain or other hazards could pose risks to life, infrastructure and communities.
Naming storms helps emergency responders, government agencies, media organisations and the public discuss significant weather events consistently and clearly. It also provides a useful reference point when reviewing notable weather events and their impacts.
READ MORE: From Amy to Dave: Looking back at the 2025/26 storm season
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