England Climate – June 2026 Update
City Coverage: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, and Newcastle
This month in numbers
England experienced its warmest June on record, with a mean temperature of 17.1°C, an anomaly of +3.5°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This ranks as the 1st warmest June in 127 years of records. The period of April to June 2026 also marked the warmest such three-month stretch on record, with a mean temperature of 13.5°C, an anomaly of +3°C. Sunshine hours for April to June were significantly above average, ranking as the 3rd sunniest in 117 years with 672 hours, an anomaly of +156 hours. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June for land temperatures on record, with an anomaly of +1°C.
What changed
The exceptionally warm June contributed to England's warmest spring on record, with the April to June period seeing temperatures 3°C above the long-term average. This regional warming trend is notably higher than the national picture for June, where the UK as a whole saw a mean temperature anomaly of +2.4°C. England's June mean temperature anomaly of +3.5°C places it 22nd globally for the latest month's temperature anomaly, amidst a striking concentration of European countries experiencing significant warmth.
What’s driving change?
The record-breaking warmth in England during June was driven by a significant heatwave that saw new national records for daily maximum and minimum June temperatures. A provisional high of 37.7°C was recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk, on 26 June, surpassing the previous June record set in 1976. The heatwave was also characterised by unusually warm nights, with England recording a new June minimum temperature record of 23.2°C in Hastings. This sustained heat stress, particularly in urban areas, highlights the impact of the effect. The current weak El Niño phase, with a Niño 3.4 SST anomaly of +0.98°C, is forecast to persist through the end of the year, potentially influencing cooler late winters in Northern Europe, though strong El Niños have historically led to warmer winters. More information on ENSO can be found at ENSO.
Looking ahead
The long-range forecast for the end of July and into August suggests a mixed pattern with an increased likelihood of low pressure and more unsettled weather, though warm or very warm temperatures are still expected, with some hot spells remaining possible, particularly in the south.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – UK
Source: Met Office UK Regional & National series (Tmean, Rainfall, Sunshine, Air Frost) © Crown copyright. Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) or 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost). See methodology.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – England
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
England – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – England
Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Cfb · TemperateHow spring and autumn have shifted in England. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (8.8°C, from 1900–1929); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 11.7°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Jun (+2.1°C).
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Sunshine & Frost
Sunshine – Total Hours
Frost Days – Total
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for England
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in England changing?
England is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for England come from?
Climate data for England comes from the UK Met Office HadUK-Grid (temperature, rainfall, sunshine, air frost), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the England climate data cover?
The England climate profile covers London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and surrounding areas. National England climate data from the Met Office regional series
How often is the England climate update refreshed?
The England climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.