The United Kingdom weather records show the most extreme weather ever recorded in the United Kingdom, such as temperature, wind speed, and rainfall records. Reliable temperature records for the whole of the United Kingdom go back to about 1880.[1]
Records
Daily records unless otherwise specified are from 0900-2100 UTC. As of 23 June 2026, the records, as recorded by the Met Office, are:[2]
Top 10 hottest days by maximum temperatures recorded in the UK
| Rank | Temperature | Date | Place(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 * | 40.3 °C (104.5 °F) | 19 July 2022[a] | Coningsby, Lincolnshire | Part of the 2022 heatwave |
| 2 * | 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) | 25 July 2019[a] | Cambridge, Cambridgeshire | Part of the 2019 heatwave |
| 3 * | 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) | 10 August 2003[a] | Faversham, Kent | Part of the 2003 heatwave |
| 4 | 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) | 18 July 2022 | Pitsford, Northamptonshire[6] | Part of the aforementioned 2022 heatwave |
| 5 | 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) | 31 July 2020 | London Heathrow Airport, Greater London | |
| 6 | 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) | 26 June 2026 | Lingwood, Norfolk[7] | Part of the 2026 heatwave[b] |
| 7 * | 37.1 °C (98.8 °F) | 3 August 1990[a] | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | Part of the 1990 heatwave |
| 8= * | 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) | 9 August 1911[a] | Raunds, Northamptonshire | Part of the 1911 heatwave |
| 8= | 1 July 2015 | London Heathrow Airport, Greater London | ||
| 8= | 25 June 2026 | Merryfield, Somerset | Part of the aforementioned 2026 heatwave[b] | |
| 9 | 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) | 2 August 1990 | Worcester, Worcestershire | |
| 10 | 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) | 19 July 2006 | Wisley, Surrey | Part of the 2006 heatwave |
Hottest day on record for UK on 19 July, 2022
Highest temperature by constituent country
| Constituent country | Temperature | Date | Place(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 40.3 °C (104.5 °F) | 19 July 2022 | Coningsby, Lincolnshire[3] |
| Wales | 37.1 °C (98.8 °F) | 18 July 2022 | Hawarden, Flintshire[4] |
| Scotland | 34.8 °C (94.6 °F) | 19 July 2022 | Charterhall, Scottish Borders[5] |
| Northern Ireland | 31.3 °C (88.3 °F) | 21 July 2021 | Castlederg, County Tyrone |
Earlier records for England/UK since 1911 are shown with a * in the “Top 10 hottest days” table below.
Record streaks
1976: 15 consecutive days above 32.2C
2026 has witnessed the first time a temperature of 35C has been observed in May, June and July.
2026: A remarkable summer
A historic summer so far
The summer of 2026 has already been extraordinary.
A late-spring heatwave that set a new May temperature record was followed by another heatwave in June, and a third in July which has lasted for two weeks in places.
- New UK June temperature record: 37.7C at Lingwood, Norfolk, surpassing the previous record of 35.6C from 1976
- New record for number of days reaching 35C or above: Six days this summer so far, surpassing the previous record of five days set in 1976
- New record for number of days reaching 34C or above: Nine days this summer so far, surpassing the previous record of eight days set in 1976.
By 15 July, the UK had already recorded more days above 30C than in the whole of 1976 – a year that is remembered by many for its iconic and long-lasting heatwave.
This year is is also the first on record when 35C or above has been reached in three separate calendar months – May, June and July.
Hottest days by month of the year
| Month | Temperature | Date | Place(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) | 28 January 2024 | Achfary, Sutherland |
| February | 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) | 26 February 2019 | Kew Gardens, London |
| March | 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) | 29 March 1968 | Mepal, Cambridgeshire |
| April | 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) | 16 April 1949 | Camden Square, London |
| May | 35.1 °C (95.2 °F) | 26 May 2026 | Kew Gardens, London |
| June[b] | 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) | 26 June 2026 | Lingwood, Norfolk |
| July | 40.3 °C (104.5 °F) | 19 July 2022 | Coningsby, Lincolnshire |
| August | 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) | 10 August 2003 | Faversham, Kent |
| September | 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) | 2 September 1906 | Bawtry, South Yorkshire |
| October | 29.9 °C (85.8 °F) | 1 October 2011 | Gravesend, Kent |
| November | 22.4 °C (72.3 °F) | 1 November 2015 | Trawsgoed, Ceredigion |
| December | 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) | 28 December 2019 | Achfary, Sutherland |
Highest minimum temperature by month
| Month | Temperature | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.2°C | 1 January 2022 | Chivenor (Devon) |
| February | 13.9°C | 23 February 2019 | Achnagart (Highland) |
| March | 14.2°C | 18 March 1990 | Arthog (Gwynedd) |
| April | 15.9°C | 19 April 2018 | Kenley Airfield (Greater London) |
| May | 21.4°C | 27 May 2026 | Camborne (Cornwall) |
| June | 22.7°C | 28 June 1976^ | Ventnor Park (Isle of Wight) |
| July | 26.8°C | 19 July 2022 | Shirburn Model Farm (Oxfordshire) |
| August | 23.9°C | 3 August 1990 | Brighton (East Sussex) |
| September | 21.7°C | 5 September 1949 | St James’s Park (London) |
| October | 19.4°C | 1 October 1985 | Aber (Gwynedd) |
| November | 15.9°C | 3 November 2005 | Eastbourne (East Sussex) |
| December | 15.0°C | 12 December 1994 | Hawarden Airport (Flintshire) |
Highest daily minimum temperature record by country
| Country | Temperature | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 26.8°C | 19 July 2022 | Shirburn Model Farm (Oxfordshire) |
| Wales | 24.5°C | 19 July 2022 | Aberporth (Ceredigion) |
| Scotland | 20.9°C | 26 July 2019 | Achnagart (Highland) |
| Northern Ireland | 19.6°C | 14 August 2001 | Belfast, Whitehouse (County Antrim) |
Record warm night during July 2022 heatwave
Coldest days by month of the year
| Month | Temperature | Date | Place(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | −27.2 °C (−17.0 °F) | 10 January 1982 | Braemar, Aberdeenshire |
| February | −27.2 °C (−17.0 °F) | 11 February 1895 | Braemar, Aberdeenshire |
| March | −22.8 °C (−9.0 °F) | 14 March 1958 | Logie Coldstone, Aberdeenshire |
| April | −15.6 °C (3.9 °F) | 2 April 1917 | Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway |
| May | −9.4 °C (15.1 °F) | 4 May 1941 | Lynford, Norfolk |
| 11 May 1941 | Lynford, Norfolk | ||
| 15 May 1941 | Fort Augustus, Highland | ||
| June | −5.6 °C (21.9 °F) | 9 June 1955 | Dalwhinnie, Highland |
| 1 June 1962 | Santon Downham, Norfolk | ||
| 3 June 1962 | Santon Downham, Norfolk | ||
| July | −2.5 °C (27.5 °F) | 15 July 1977 | Lagganlia, Highland |
| 9 July 1986 | St Harmon, Radnorshire | ||
| August | −4.5 °C (23.9 °F) | 21 August 1973 | Lagganlia, Highland |
| September | −6.7 °C (19.9 °F) | 26 September 1942 | Dalwhinnie, Highland |
| October | −11.7 °C (10.9 °F) | 28 October 1948 | Dalwhinnie, Highland |
| November | −23.3 °C (−9.9 °F) | 14 November 1919 | Braemar, Aberdeenshire |
| December | −27.2 °C (−17.0 °F) | 30 December 1995 | Altnaharra, Highland |
United Kingdom: Lowest daily maximum temperature records
| Month | Temperature | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -13.0°C | 10 January 1982 | West Linton (Scottish Borders) |
| February | -10.0°C | 9 February 1895 | Braemar (Aberdeenshire) |
| February | -10.0°C | 1 February 1956 | Princetown (Devon) |
| March | -4.7°C | 1 March 2018 | Tredegar (Blaenau Gwent) |
| April | -1.1°C | 1 April 1917 | Durham |
| April | -1.1°C | 1 April 1917 | Macclesfield (Cheshire) |
| May | 1.6°C | 8 May 1917 | Braemar (Aberdeenshire) |
| May | 1.6°C | 1 May 1979 | Knockanrock (Highland) |
| June | 5.1°C | 2 June 1975 | Nunraw Abbey (East Lothian) |
| July | 7.5°C | 5 July 1978 | Clashnoir (Banffshire) |
| August | 8.9°C | 27 August 1919 | Ampleforth (North Yorkshire) |
| August | 8.9°C | 28 August 1919 | Bradford (West Yorkshire) |
| August | 8.9°C | 28 August 1919 | Newton Rigg (Cumbria) |
| August | 8.9°C | 18 August 1964 | Lerwick (Shetland) |
| September | 4.4°C | 29 September 1915 | Braemar (Aberdeenshire) |
| October | 0.4°C | 17 October 1973 | Glenmore Lodge (Inverness-shire) |
| November | -11.1°C | 29 November 1912 | Braemar (Aberdeenshire) |
| November | -11.1°C | 14 November 1919 | Braemar (Aberdeenshire) |
| December | -15.9°C | 29 December 1995 | Fyvie Castle (Aberdeenshire) |
Lowest daily maximum temperature record by country
| Country | Temperature | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | -15.9°C | 29 December 1995 | Fyvie Castle (Aberdeenshire) |
| England | -11.3°C | 11 January 1982 | Newport (Shropshire) |
| Northern Ireland | -11.3°C | 23 December 2010 | Edenfel (County Tyrone) |
| Wales | -8.0°C | 12 January 1987 | Trecastle (Dyfed) |
Lowest temperature by constituent country
| Constituent Nation | Temperature | Date | Place(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | −27.2 °C (−17.0 °F) | 11 February 1895 and 10 January 1982 | Braemar, Aberdeenshire |
| 30 December 1995 | Altnaharra, Sutherland | ||
| England | −26.1 °C (−15.0 °F) | 10 January 1982 | Newport, Shropshire |
| Wales | −23.3 °C (−9.9 °F) | 21 January 1940 | Rhayader, Radnorshire |
| Northern Ireland | −18.7 °C (−1.7 °F) | 24 December 2010 | Castlederg, County Tyrone |
Most hours of sunshine
| Record | Duration | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest monthly total (UK national average)[10] | 266 hours | UK (national average) | May 2020 |
| Highest monthly total (England)[2] | 383.9 hours | Eastbourne, Sussex | July 1911 |
| Highest monthly total (Northern Ireland)[2] | 301.3 hours | Magilligan, County Londonderry | May 2025 |
| Highest monthly total (Scotland)[2] | 329.1 hours | Tiree, Argyll & Bute | May 1975 |
| Highest monthly total (Wales)[2] | 354.3 hours | Dale Fort, Pembrokeshire | July 1955 |
Rainfall records
Most rainfall in periods of time
| Duration | Amount | Place(s) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Durations | |||
| Highest 5-min total | 32 mm (1.3 in) | Preston, Lancashire | 10 August 1893 |
| Highest 30-min total | 80 mm (3.1 in) | Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway[11] | 26 June 1953 |
| Highest 60-min total | 92 mm (3.6 in) | Maidenhead, Berkshire | 12 July 1901 |
| Highest 90-min total | 117 mm (4.6 in) | Dunsop Valley, Lancashire | 8 August 1967 |
| Highest 120-min total | 193 mm (7.6 in)[c] | Walshaw Dean Lodge, West Yorkshire | 19 May 1989 |
| Highest 155-min total | 169 mm (6.7 in) | Hampstead, Greater London | 14 August 1975 |
| Highest 180-min total | 178 mm (7.0 in) | Horncastle, Lincolnshire | 7 October 1960 |
| Highest total in any 24-hour period | 341.4 mm (13.44 in) | Honister Pass, Cumbria | 4 December 2015 1800 UTC – 5 December 2015 1800 UTC |
| Consecutive Rainfall Days (0900 UTC – 0900 UTC) | |||
| Highest 1-day total | 279 mm (11.0 in) | Martinstown, Dorset | 18 July 1955 |
| Highest 1-day total (UK national average) | 31.7 mm (1.25 in) | UK (national average)[12] | 3 October 2020 |
| Highest 2-day total | 405 mm (15.9 in) | Thirlmere, Cumbria | 4 to 5 December 2015 |
| Highest 3-day total | 456.4 mm (17.97 in) | Seathwaite, Cumbria | 17 to 19 November 2009 |
| Highest 4-day total | 495 mm (19.5 in) | 16 to 19 November 2009 | |
| Highest monthly total | 1,396.4 mm (54.98 in) | Crib Goch, Snowdon | 1 to 31 December 2015 |
| Highest annual total | 6,527 mm (257.0 in) | Sprinkling Tarn, Cumbria | 1 January to 31 December 1954[13] |
Wind records
Highest wind speed
| Ground Level | Wind speed | Location | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | knots | |||
| Low level (up to 500 m) | 142 | 228 | 123 | Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire | 13 February 1989 |
| High level (above 500 m) | 173 | 278 | 150 | Cairn Gorm, Scottish Highlands | 20 March 1986 |
Shetland holds the unofficial British record for wind speed. A gust of 197 mph (317 km/h) was reported on 1 January 1992. An earlier gust in 1962 was recorded at 177 mph (285 km/h), both at RAF Saxa Vord.[14] However, it is expected that higher gusts than those reported would have been achieved as during both storms the measuring equipment was destroyed by the extreme weather.[15]
A wind gust of 194 mph (312 km/h) was recorded at Cairn Gorm on 19 December 2008 but was discovered too late to be verified by the Met Office.[16]
The highest wind speed in England was a wind gust of 125.4 mph (201.8 km/h) recorded at The Needles, Isle of Wight, on 18 February 2022 during Storm Eunice.[17]
Snowfall records
Most snowfall in a day
| Amount | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greatest depth in an inhabited area[18] | 83 in (210 cm) | Forest-in-Teesdale, County Durham | 14 March 1947 |
Other notable records
Atmospheric pressure
| Record | Level | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | 1,053.6 mbar (31.11 inHg) | Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire | 31 January 1902 |
| Lowest | 925.6 mbar (27.33 inHg) | Ochtertyre, Perthshire | 26 January 1884 |
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: NASA
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