Weather and Climate summaries

Overview of weather across the UK for previous months, seasons and years

Those interested in climate change and predictions of future climates should also visit the Climate Change pages.

UK last month

May 2026

May overall was a month of two halves, with the first two weeks seeing unsettled weather with below average temperatures and the second half of the month seeing record-breaking heat. The month started with mild temperatures, particularly in the southeast, with outbreaks of rain and strong wind gusts. Temperatures then decreased and by the 5^th the weather was unsettled with frosts in some northwestern regions and consistently below average temperatures across the UK. The following two weeks were more of the same: below average temperatures, occasionally heavy showers, frost in some northern areas, and generally unsettled weather. Temperatures started to increase around the 19^th, with the weather turning more settled as high pressure dominated. By the 24^th some stations were recording temperatures above 30°C, with station records tumbling. Heatwave thresholds were met across much of central and southern England and Wales as the heat continued. Occasional showers, some thundery, broke through the heat, but overall the final two weeks of the month saw settled weather across the UK.

The provisional mean temperature for the UK was 12.0°C, 1.3°C above average and the joint third warmest May on record. England provisionally recorded it second warmest May, while Wales saw its joint third warmest. Maximum temperatures were also well above average, with England provisionally recording its warmest May for maximum temperatures. Provisionally, Kew Gardens (London) recorded a new May maximum daily temperature on the 25^th, which was broken again the very next day as temperatures continued to rise. The new record of 35.1°C beat the previous longstanding record of 32.8°C from May 1944. More than 20 other stations also saw temperatures above the 1944 record, with many seeing new station record May temperatures. Minimum temperatures were also exceptional, with a new highest daily minimum temperature for the UK recorded at Camborne (Cornwall) where temperatures not drop below 21.4°C on the 27^th.

Rainfall was below average across the country, with no nation recording above average rainfall although Northern Ireland came close with 96% of the average. The UK provisionally recorded just 78% of the average rainfall, although there was a north-south divide: Essex and Suffolk provisionally recorded less than a third of the average rainfall (both 31%), while Tyne and Wear recorded 140% of average and Shetland recorded 137%. Sunshine overall was roughly average (for the UK, 105% of average), but lower in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The UK monthly extremes were as follows: A maximum temperature of 35.1°C was recorded at Kew Gardens (Greater London) on the 26^th. A minimum temperature of -6.8°C was recorded at Tomintoul (Banffshire) on the 6^th. In the 24 hours ending at 0900 UTC on the 27^th, 53.2mm of rain fell at Thorpe Satchville (Leicestershire). A wind gust of 46 knots (53 mph) was recorded at Wight: Needles Old Battery (Isle of Wight) on the 19^th.

Regional values for May 2026