UK weather latest: Summer set to be the hottest since records began, say Met Office

The UK is on course to record its warmest summer on record, with only average conditions needed for the remainder of August to surpass the record set only last year.

Provisional Met Office statistics show that the UK’s mean temperature for meteorological summer so far (1 June to 10 August) currently stands at 16.48°C, which is 1.88°C above the 1991-2020 average.

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.

Any warmer than this would establish a new UK record, with records starting in 1884.

Met Office senior scientist Mike Kendon 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.

“We’ve seen temperatures hit 38°C in June, 35°C in early and late July, and this threshold is looking to be reached again in the next few days.

“It’s worth remembering we also reached 35°C in late May and easily exceeded both the May and June previous all-time temperature records this year. These statistics are a clear reminder – if one were needed – of the stark changes that we are seeing in the UK’s climate.”

The Met Office has warned that the expected high temperatures will cause a likely increased demand on health and social services.

Elderly people are likely to be particularly vulnerable, with people warned to avoid the sun during the peak of day.

William Spencer, climate and first aid expert at the British Red Cross, said: “While periods of hot weather have become more familiar in recent years, they can still pose serious risks to health. In fact, after prolonged dry and warm conditions, it is more important than ever to follow heat safety advice.

“Simple steps such as wearing sunscreen, drinking plenty of fluids, seeking shade during the hottest parts of the day and taking regular breaks from the sun can help protect you and those around you.

“It’s also important to look out for the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly among people who may be more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.”

July was the busiest month on record for wildfires, statistics have revealed as people living close to a blaze in the New Forest were told to limit their use of water amid fears there could be disruptions to supply.

The National Fire Chiefs Council said on Tuesday its services had responded to 966 wildfires this year, just shy of the 1,017 they attended during a record-breaking year in 2025.

In July alone, firefighters attended 458 wildfires, whilst in the first 10 days of August crews have been called out to 185 wildfires.

Phil Garrigan, chairman of the council, said: “The combination of drought conditions and another heatwave means the risk of fires remains high, and these incidents can place huge demands on firefighters and specialist resources.

“Many wildfires are preventable so we’re asking people to be vigilant and take extra care outdoors while these conditions continue.”

Mr Garrigan’s warning comes as people living close to a blaze, that at one point covered an area equivalent to 140 football pitches, were told to reduce their use of water to ensure there are not disruptions to supply.

Bournemouth Water, which supplies Ringwood and the New Forest, has asked residents to reduce water usage.

Soaring temperatures and droughts across the UK and Europe are set to drive prices higher, food and drink producers have warned.

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said “fruit, vegetable and grain supply” are being hit by recent heatwaves, with these crop shortages then set to feed into supermarket prices.

Economists from the trade group suggested that this will put upward pressure on food inflation going into 2027.

It is understood that the supply of a number of UK-grown fruit and vegetables has already come under pressure, such as broccoli and cherries.

Meanwhile, poor grain harvests are driving the cost of animal feed higher, with predictions that this could lead to more expensive meat as farmers are forced to reduce herd sizes.

It comes ahead of a fresh heatwave in the UK, with the Met Office warning that temperatures will soar to the mid-30s in some areas on Thursday.

The UK should be investing money in defending the country against the climate crisis rather than listening to Donald Trump on security spending, Zack Polanski has said.

The Green Party leader on Saturday reiterated his view that the climate crisis is “the biggest threat to our national security since the Second World War”.

Appearing at Iain Dale All Talk at the Edinburgh Fringe, he was asked by an audience member whether he and his party agree with increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP when there are “so many competing environmental needs.”

Mr Polanski said that if defence spending includes money for climate adaptation such as dealing with floods and wildfires then we “clearly need to up our spending”.

He suggested that was more important than listening to US President Donald Trump, who has called for Nato allies to shoulder more of the burden of European defence.

Mr Polanski said: “If we’re talking about spending 3.5 per cent of our GDP on military spending to please Donald Trump, then I think there’s an absolute incoherency in that.

“We’re already, I think, one of the fifth biggest spenders on military capacity, and actually, I think we need to look at defence as a much more holistic issue.

“I said this week, and I really believe, that the climate crisis is the biggest threat to our national security since the Second World War.

“It’s not some distant threat – it’s right here, right now. We’ve had wildfires not far away from here, where we’re talking in Edinburgh, and we know that what’s happening right now is not the new normal.

“This is the beginning of what will be the least extreme temperatures and least extreme weather in our lifetimes.

“It is going to get worse and worse and worse. And in many ways, it’s a grim message.

“We can’t stop some of that breakdown, what we can do, though, and it’s important that people hear this, is we can stop total breakdown, and that feels beyond important to do, and that’s where we should be investing right now, not on listening to what Donald Trump says or creating arbitrary numbers of GDP.”

The UK’s treasured historic green spaces are under increasing threat from climate extremes, a report warns.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England warn that historic parks, gardens and cemeteries across the country are vulnerable to damage from harsher, more widespread drought, intense rainfall, more severe storms and pests which can thrive in warmer conditions.

These impacts, driven by climate change – which is mostly caused by burning fossil fuels for power plants, cars, heating and industry – are affecting all aspects of these heritage landscapes, from trees and plant collections to paths, terraces and lakes.

The report says historic parks and gardens, including Chiswick House and Gardens, Kew and the Royal Parks, in London, and Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, employ more than 32,000 people and contribute £2.9 billion to the UK economy each year from international visitors alone.

But they are already being hit by increasingly extreme weather caused by climate change, with paths and drainage systems not fit for current conditions, trees lost to drought and high winds, and potential loss of entire groups of plants to diseases affecting box, ash, sweet chestnut and oak.

A large fire has broken out next to the M25, forcing a section of the motorway to close as firefighters tackle the blaze.

Emergency services are at the scene in St Albans after the fire started at an industrial estate in Ventura Park.

Pictures on social media and released by National Highways show thick dark smoke rising above the carriageways, with road closures in place.