UK records 25 days above 30°C, surpassing 1976 total

The United Kingdom has broken a longstanding heat record, surpassing the number of days above 30 degrees Celsius recorded during the infamous summer of 1976. As of July 15, 2026, the country has now experienced 25 days where temperatures have exceeded 30C somewhere in the nation, marking the tenth consecutive day of such heat. This total, comprising seven days in May, eight in June, and ten so far in July, exceeds the 24 days recorded in 1976.

The current heatwave, the third of the summer, saw temperatures peak at 30.2C at Kew Gardens in west London on Tuesday, July 14. Forecasters from the Met Office expect the heat to continue through much of this week, with temperatures potentially reaching 33C in parts of southern and central England on Wednesday, July 15. While not matching the extreme highs seen earlier in the summer, the persistent heat is part of an extraordinary pattern that has rewritten weather records. This year has already seen six separate days with temperatures of 35C or higher, a first for any British summer, and set a new June record of 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk.

The prolonged hot and dry conditions are having significant impacts. Fire and rescue crews across...