England East & North East Climate – June 2026 Update
City Coverage: Leeds, Sheffield, York, Hull, Lincoln, and Norwich
This month in numbers
England East & North East experienced its 2nd warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 16.2°C, a significant 3.4°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This nearly matched the all-time record set just last year. The period of April–June 2026 also ranked as the 2nd warmest on record, with an average of 12.5°C, 2.8°C above the baseline. Sunshine hours for April–June were also exceptionally high, ranking as the 2nd sunniest on record with 656 hours, 166 hours above average. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June on record for land temperatures, and the April–June period was the 2nd warmest.
What changed
The past three months have seen a pronounced warming trend in England East & North East, with both mean temperatures and sunshine hours ranking among the highest on record. This region's mean temperature for June was 3.4°C above average, significantly higher than the UK national average anomaly of +2.4°C for the same month, indicating a more extreme warming locally. The region's June anomaly of +3.41°C placed it 24th out of 234 regions globally for the latest month's temperature anomaly.
What’s driving change?
The notable warmth in England East & North East during June and the preceding months was influenced by a combination of factors. A significant heatwave impacted parts of England in June, with the Met Office issuing its first Red heat warning for areas including Eastern England. This heatwave contributed to exceptionally high daytime and unusually warm overnight temperatures. The current weak El Niño state, with an anomaly of +0.98°C, is also playing a role in the broader global temperature increases. While El Niño's direct influence on the UK's summer weather is often indirect, it can amplify the risk of extreme heat when combined with long-term climate change. The Met Office has indicated that this developing El Niño is likely to be a significant event, potentially one of the most intense on record. More information on the current ENSO state can be found at ENSO.
Looking ahead
The developing El Niño is expected to strengthen and persist through the remainder of the year, with a 100% probability of El Niño conditions continuing through at least November. This could lead to a higher chance of milder, wetter, and windier conditions during autumn and early winter for the UK, though impacts will be assessed as forecasts evolve.
Sources:
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 East & North East
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
England East & North East – 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 East & North East
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 East & North East. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (8.1°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 (+2.0°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 East & North East
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 East & North East changing?
England East & North East 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 East & North East come from?
Climate data for England East & North East 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 East & North East climate data cover?
The England East & North East climate profile covers Leeds, Sheffield, York, Hull and surrounding areas. Climate data for Yorkshire, Humber and the east of England
How often is the England East & North East climate update refreshed?
The England East & North East 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.