Britain is on course to record its hottest summer on record for the second year in a row, according to the UK Met Office, as the country prepares for its fifth heatwave of the season.
The weather agency said on Tuesday that temperatures recorded so far this summer have already put 2026 ahead of last year’s record. Average temperatures between June 1 and August 10 reached 16.48 degrees Celsius, compared with 16.10C for the whole of summer 2025.
The Met Office said only average weather conditions through the rest of August would be enough for this summer to surpass last year’s record. The previous record before 2025 was 15.76C, set in 2018.
Mike Kendon, a senior scientist at the Met Office, said another record-breaking summer was becoming increasingly likely after June and July both ranked among the hottest months ever recorded in Britain.
He said the figures highlighted the significant changes taking place in the country’s climate, with increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat.
The latest heatwave is expected to bring another spell of high temperatures across parts of Britain. The prolonged heat has already placed pressure on water supplies, agriculture and public services, while dry conditions have affected large parts of the country.
Almost three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales have been classified as being in drought. Both countries also recorded their driest July on record this year, adding to concerns over water availability and the impact on crops and livestock.
Britain is particularly vulnerable to prolonged heat and dry weather because much of its infrastructure and buildings were designed for a cooler and more temperate climate. Extended periods of high temperatures can affect transport networks, hospitals, schools and workplaces.
Scientists have warned that rising global temperatures are increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and droughts. The repeated breaking of temperature records is being viewed as another indication of the changing climate.
The effects of this year’s heat have already been felt across England. Heatwaves and exceptionally high temperatures during May and June disrupted schools, transport services and hospitals.
Official estimates indicate that the heat contributed to 2,877 excess deaths in England. That figure is almost twice the number recorded across the entire summer of 2025, underlining the growing health risks associated with prolonged periods of extreme heat.
With several weeks of summer still remaining, the Met Office expects Britain’s latest temperature record to face another serious test before the season ends.
