Mild, wet and sunny might sound like an unlikely combination, but that is exactly what October 2026 delivered.
The last month was warmer than average across all parts of the UK, with temperatures particularly above average across eastern and central England.
Despite rainfall totals exceeding average across every region in the statistics, it was also a sunnier-than-average month throughout the country.
Temperatures above average across the UK
Mild conditions were a feature of October 2026, with all regions recording mean temperatures above their respective averages.
The largest mean temperature anomaly was in East Anglia, where the average temperature for the month was 12.6°C, 1.3°C above average. Southeast England and central southern England also recorded a mean temperature of 12.6°C, which was 1.2°C above average.
The Midlands had a mean temperature of 11.5°C, 1.1°C above average, while southwest England and south Wales recorded 11.8°C, 1.0°C above average. Eastern and northeast England was also 1.0°C above average, with a mean temperature of 10.9°C.
The temperature anomalies were smaller further north, although conditions remained above average. Northern and eastern Scotland both had mean temperatures of 8.5°C, 0.6°C above average in each region. Western Scotland recorded 9.3°C, 0.5°C above average.
Daytime temperatures showed an especially marked departure from average in eastern England. East Anglia recorded an average maximum temperature of 16.8°C, 1.9°C above average, the largest maximum-temperature anomaly among the regions. Southeast England and central southern England followed at 16.7°C, 1.6°C above average.
You can explore these stats in our interactive graph below.
Met Office Scientist Dr Emily Carlisle said: “October saw a notable shift towards more unsettled weather, with low-pressure systems bringing repeated spells of rain through the month. Rainfall was particularly concentrated towards the end of October as Storms Austen and Storm Boelo affected the UK in quick succession.
“This resulted in above-average rainfall for the UK and all four nations. Storm Boelo was especially notable, with 24 October provisionally the joint-sixth wettest day on record for the UK and the sixth wettest for Scotland.
“October marks the ninth consecutive month with above-average mean temperatures for the UK, continuing the prolonged spell of warmer-than-average conditions seen through much of 2026.”
A wet October, especially in northern Scotland
Rainfall was above average across every region in the October statistics, though there was considerable regional variation.
Northern Scotland had the wettest month relative to average, receiving 236.4mm of rain, 131% of average. Southeast England and central southern England was the next wettest relative to normal, recording 110.3mm, or 123% of average.
Northwest England and north Wales recorded 161.7mm of rainfall, 115% of average, while East Anglia received 72.3mm, equivalent to 112%. Western Scotland recorded 209.1mm, 108% of average, with the Midlands at 88.4mm, also 108%.
Eastern Scotland was closest to its average rainfall, with 130.9mm representing 101% of average. Southwest England and south Wales recorded 145.1mm, or 104%.
You can explore these stats in our interactive graph below.
Sunshine above average everywhere
Perhaps one of the more notable features of October was that the wetter-than-average conditions did not translate into a dull month overall.
Every region recorded above-average sunshine. East Anglia saw 142.4 hours of sunshine, 128% of average, the highest percentage of average in the regional statistics. Eastern and northeast England was close behind with 125.8 hours, 127% of average, while eastern Scotland recorded 102.7 hours, 126%.
The Midlands recorded 123.1 hours, 124% of average. Southwest England and south Wales, and southeast England and central southern England, both reached 123% of average, with 123.5 and 139.2 hours respectively.
Northern Scotland had 77.3 hours of sunshine, 114% of average, while northwest England and north Wales recorded 100.4 hours, also 114%. Western Scotland received 85.5 hours, 111% of average.
You can explore these stats in our interactive graph below.
October 2026 in summary
Taken together, the regional figures paint a distinctive picture of October 2026: warmer than average everywhere, wetter than average everywhere, but also sunnier than average across every region.
The greatest warmth relative to average was generally focused towards eastern and southern England, while northern Scotland experienced the largest rainfall surplus.
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