July 2026 was a remarkable month across the UK, and a closer look at county-level statistics shows just how widespread the warmth and sunshine were, but also how uneven the rainfall was.
For many counties across England and Wales, July brought a combination of very high temperatures, exceptional sunshine totals and notably low rainfall.
Some areas recorded only a trace of rain across the entire month, while parts of Scotland saw a much more mixed picture, with some places closer to average for rainfall and others considerably drier than normal.
Very warm for many southern and eastern counties
The highest mean temperatures were concentrated across southern and eastern England, where July was persistently warm by both day and night.
The City of London recorded a mean temperature of 22.4°C, around 3.3°C above average, with an average maximum temperature of 28.6°C. Greater London was also notably warm, with a mean temperature of 21.8°C, also 3.3°C above average, and an average maximum of 28.3°C.
Elsewhere in the south, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex and Wiltshire all recorded mean temperatures around 20°C to 21°C, with anomalies widely above 3°C. Wiltshire had one of the largest mean temperature anomalies, at 3.6°C above average, while Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, Dorset and Devon were all 3.5°C above average.
The warmth was not confined to the far south. Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and West Midlands all saw average maximum temperatures at or above 26.6°C, highlighting how widespread the warm conditions were through central England.
Further north, temperatures were still above average, though generally less extreme. Greater Manchester recorded a mean temperature of 18.4°C, 2.2°C above average, while North Yorkshire recorded 17.4°C, 2.0°C above average. Across Scotland, anomalies were typically closer to 1°C, although many counties and districts still saw warmer-than-average conditions.
You can explore these stats using our interactive map below.
Rainfall scarce across much of England and Wales
Rainfall was the most striking element of the month for many counties. Several areas recorded extremely low totals, particularly across southern, central and eastern England.
The Isle of Wight recorded 0.0mm of rain, while City of London, Greater London, Rutland and Surrey each recorded just 0.2mm. Essex and Kent recorded only 0.3mm, with Berkshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire each recording 0.4mm.
These totals represented only a tiny fraction of average July rainfall. Several counties, including Greater London, City of London, Isle of Wight, Rutland and Surrey, were recorded at 0% of average rainfall in the dataset, while many others across southern and eastern England were at only 1% or 2%.
This included Berkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, all of which saw rainfall totals of around 1% of average. The dryness also extended westwards, with Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Wiltshire and Worcestershire all recording only 1mm to 1.4mm of rain.
Wales also saw significant rainfall deficits. Gwent recorded 2.4mm, or 3% of average, while Dyfed, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and West Glamorgan all had less than 8mm. Powys recorded 7.7mm, equivalent to 8% of average.
You can explore these stats using our interactive map below.
A different picture in Scotland
Scotland saw a more varied rainfall picture. Some western and northern areas were much closer to average rainfall than the exceptionally dry areas further south.
Ross and Cromarty recorded 121.2mm, equivalent to 104% of average, while Orkney recorded 70.1mm, or 114% of average. Argyll and Bute also saw a much higher total than most counties, with 135.3mm, representing 94% of average rainfall.
However, not all Scottish areas were wet. Angus recorded 31.0mm, 34% of average, while Perth and Kinross recorded 37.5mm, 38% of average. Kincardineshire also had below-average rainfall, with 33.0mm, or 39% of average.
A month of striking contrasts
The county statistics underline the exceptional nature of July 2026. For many parts of England and Wales, the month was defined by sustained warmth, abundant sunshine and a severe lack of rain. In contrast, parts of northern and western Scotland saw rainfall much closer to average, though even here temperatures and sunshine were generally above normal.
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