England has recorded its hottest June in history, with provisional figures from the Met Office indicating an average temperature of 17.1°C for the month. This surpasses the previous record of 16.9°C set in 2025 and stands nearly 3°C above the long-term average.
The exceptional warmth was largely driven by an intense and record-breaking heatwave that occurred in the latter half of June. This period was also characterized by numerous ‘tropical nights,’ during which temperatures did not fall below 20°C. The UK as a whole experienced its second warmest June on record, while Wales recorded its second warmest, and Scotland and Northern Ireland both had their joint fourth warmest June since records began in 1884. For the UK, June 2026 provisionally ranks as the second warmest June on record, behind only June 2023.
This late-month heatwave led to the first-ever issuance of a Red Warning for Extreme Heat for three consecutive days in the UK. The highest temperature recorded during this period was 37.7°C at Lingwood in Norfolk. The UK, England, and Wales all registered their highest average minimum temperature for June since records began in 1884, each surpassing the previous record by approximately 0.5°C.
Met Office Chief Scientist Professor Stephen Belcher described the temperatures as "sobering" and highlighted the implications of climate change. He noted that such extreme heat and humidity can lead to significant health issues, including heat stress, and can impact critical sectors such as transport, energy, and water supply.
Met Office Scientist Dr. Emily Carlisle stated that June provided a clear example of how UK weather can encompass both unsettled conditions and record-breaking heat within a single month. She added that the intensity of the heatwave, coupled with unusually warm nights, contributed to England's record-breaking June mean temperature. Carlisle also pointed out that these events, occurring 50 years after the 1976 heatwave, illustrate how similar occurrences are now unfolding in a warmer climate, resulting in higher temperatures and more widespread impacts than in the past.
Looking ahead, Met Office projections suggest that hot spells are likely to become more frequent in the UK's future climate, particularly in the southeast. Temperatures are expected to rise across all seasons, with the most intense heat anticipated during the summer months.
Recent warnings from experts also indicate that a developing 'super El Niño' could bring even hotter conditions to the UK later in the summer. NASA satellites have confirmed the phenomenon is underway, characterized by warmer water in the equatorial Pacific. While El Niño's effects are widespread, including wetter conditions in the American Southwest and drought in parts of the western Pacific, experts anticipate extreme heat globally, including the UK. A particularly strong El Niño could amplify global temperatures and exacerbate the effects of climate change. Simon Culling of the UK's Tornado & Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) suggested that if current predictions hold, the UK could face hotter summers in 2026 and 2027, alongside an increased risk of significant cold spells in the winter of 2026/27. While the direct influence of El Niño on UK weather is indirect, meteorologists note its potential intensity, comparable to the 1997/98 event which saw record global temperatures, could significantly impact weather patterns. Grahame Madge, a climate science communicator at the Met Office, described the likely El Niño event as significant and potentially the strongest this century, comparable to the 1998 event which marked a record warm year globally. He emphasized that while El Niño is a major driver of global weather, it is not the sole factor influencing these changes.