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The United Kingdom is on course to record its “warmest summer on record,” according to the country’s national weather service.
Provisional statistics released by the Met Office on Tuesday showed that the current recorded mean temperature across the UK from 1 June to 10 August was 16.48°C – 1.88°C above the average for 1991-2020.
“To equal the current UK summer mean temperature record of 16.12°C set in 2025, the remainder of August would only need to average 0.21°C below the 1991-2020 long-term average for meteorological summer,” the Met Office said. “Any warmer than this would establish a new UK record, with records starting in 1884”.
In England, the mean summer temperature has so far clocked in at 18.19°C over the same period – up 2.46°C on the average – meaning the rest of the month would need to be 1.41°C below the nation’s summer average to equal the current record, which was also set in 2025, per the Met Office.
A record-breaking summer is also looking likely in Wales, which has recorded a mean summer temperature of 16.8°C so far, 2.17°C above average.
Mike Kendon, a senior scientist with the Met Office, said: “Another record-breaking summer now looks increasingly likely for the UK, following the second-warmest June, and second-warmest July on record and yet another heatwave imminent.”
“These statistics are a clear reminder – if one were needed – of the stark changes that we are seeing in the UK’s climate,” he added.
It comes as the Met Office issued amber heat alerts for parts of the UK on Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach up to 37°C in some areas.
Western Europe is also gearing up to face yet another heatwave this week.
In France, 43 departments are under an orange heat alert on Tuesday. That number will rise to 78 on Wednesday as the heat intensifies, with temperatures of up to 40°C forecast.
Much of Spain is also facing weather warnings, with sweltering conditions potentially exceeding 40°C in parts of the country.
The brutal weather has put increasing strain on emergency services across the continent in recent months, while also helping the spread of a series of deadly wildfires and severe droughts.
There has also been an uptick in excess deaths linked to the heatwaves. In England, a report by the UK Health Security Agency showed there were 2,877 excess deaths caused by heatwaves in May and June.