UK heatwave continues with 35C highs, sets record for hot days this year

The United Kingdom is currently enduring a significant heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 35C. While this heatwave is not anticipated to shatter daily temperature records, it has already contributed to a record-breaking year for extreme heat. This year has seen eight days where temperatures have reached or exceeded 34C, surpassing the records set in 1976 and 2020. These hot days were distributed across May, June, and the current July heatwave.

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The current heatwave is not expected to break any daily temperature records, however, on Thursday the Met Office announced there have been eight days in 2026 where the heat has reached or exceeded 34C.

During June's heatwave, the mercury climbed to 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, setting a new record for the month. Wales also experienced its hottest June day, with Cardiff reaching 35.9C. Northern Ireland matched its June record at 30.8C, and Scotland narrowly missed its all-time June record with a high of 31.2C.

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People may be drawing comparisons with 1976, where the UK saw 16 consecutive days above 30C, but this record is not likely to be broken.

The current July heatwave has seen a high of 35.5C in Wisley, Surrey. Although temperatures are expected to moderate slightly into the weekend, many areas will still experience official heatwave thresholds next week. The prolonged period of heat is drawing comparisons to the summer of 1976, which saw 16 consecutive days above 30C, though that record is unlikely to be broken. The UK's highest recorded temperature remains 40.3C, set in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, during the unprecedented heatwave of 2022.

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The highest temperature recorded in the UK was during the unprecedented heatwave of 2022, when an astonishing 40.3C was recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire.