England and Wales Climate – June 2026 Update
City Coverage: London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Bristol, and Leeds
This month in numbers
June 2026 was the warmest June on record for England and Wales, with an average temperature of 17°C, marking a significant anomaly of +3.5°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This also made the April–June 2026 period the warmest on record, at 13.37°C, an anomaly of +3°C. Sunshine for the April–June period was also notably high, ranking as the 3rd sunniest on record with 662 hours, 148 hours above average. England and Wales ranked 21st globally for its 1-month temperature anomaly in June.
What changed
The past three months have seen exceptionally warm and sunny conditions across England and Wales. The region experienced its warmest April–June on record, significantly surpassing the national average temperature anomaly for the UK in June. This extended period of warmth follows a trend, with 2025 being the 2nd warmest year on record for England and Wales, and the long-term trend showing a warming of +1.47°C against the 1961–1990 baseline.
What’s driving change?
The record-breaking warmth in June, which included a severe heatwave across England and Wales, was influenced by a strengthening El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean. This El Niño, currently in a weak phase but forecast to strengthen, is contributing to a broader atmospheric setup that can push warm air north into Europe. During June, England recorded a provisional high of 37.7°C, breaking the previous June record, and Wales also saw its hottest June day on record at 35.9°C. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) was in a negative phase in May 2026, which can be associated with blocked weather patterns, potentially contributing to the stalled high-pressure systems that lead to . The effect would have further amplified temperatures in densely populated areas during the heatwave. More information on global climate drivers can be found at ENSO.
Looking ahead
Forecasts indicate that the current El Niño is likely to strengthen significantly later in 2026, with a very high likelihood of becoming a strong or even unprecedented event by winter, which could lead to warmer-than-normal conditions across Europe into spring 2027.
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 and Wales
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
England and Wales – 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 and Wales
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 and Wales. 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 11.6°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 and Wales
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 and Wales changing?
England and Wales 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 and Wales come from?
Climate data for England and Wales 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 and Wales climate data cover?
The England and Wales climate profile covers London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and surrounding areas. Combined England and Wales climate data across major cities
How often is the England and Wales climate update refreshed?
The England and Wales 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.