England NW & North Wales Climate – June 2026 Update
City Coverage: Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Blackpool, Chester, Bangor, and Wrexham
This month in numbers
June 2026 was exceptionally warm for England NW & North Wales, ranking as the 2nd warmest June on record with an average temperature of 15.8°C, a significant 3.1°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This follows a trend of elevated temperatures, with the April–June 2026 period also ranking as the 2nd warmest on record for the region, at 12.3°C, 2.5°C above average. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June on land, and the April–June period was the 2nd warmest on record for global land temperatures.
What changed
The past three months have seen consistently warmer-than-average conditions across England NW & North Wales. The region's average temperature for April–June 2026 was 12.3°C, matching the record set in the same period last year. This sustained warmth contrasts with the national picture, where the UK as a whole also experienced a significantly warmer June, with an anomaly of +2.4°C. The region's June anomaly of +3.1°C places it 31st globally for the latest month's temperature anomaly, indicating a widespread warming trend.
What’s driving change?
The prolonged warmth in England NW & North Wales, particularly during June, was part of a broader heatwave across the UK and Europe. This extreme heat was driven by an omega block weather pattern, drawing hot air from the Sahara and trapping it over the region. This event led to record-breaking daytime and unusually warm overnight temperatures across England and Wales. The current weak El Niño, with a Niño 3.4 SST anomaly of +1.8°C, is also a contributing factor to global warming trends, although its direct influence on UK weather is typically indirect. El Niño tends to weaken the Atlantic jet stream, which can lead to warmer and drier weather across the UK, particularly in southern and central regions. The Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat and humidity in late June, covering parts of southern Wales and much of England, highlighting the significant health risks posed by these temperatures. You can track the evolving ENSO situation at ENSO.
Looking ahead
The NOAA CPC forecast indicates a 100% probability of El Niño continuing through the autumn and into winter, suggesting a potential for continued indirect influence on global weather patterns in the coming months.
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 NW & North Wales
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
England NW & North 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 NW & North 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 NW & North Wales. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (8.2°C, from 1900–1929); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 11.0°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Jun (+1.9°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 NW & North 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 NW & North Wales changing?
England NW & North 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 NW & North Wales come from?
Climate data for England NW & North 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 NW & North Wales climate data cover?
The England NW & North Wales climate profile covers Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Blackpool and surrounding areas. North-west England and north Wales climate data
How often is the England NW & North Wales climate update refreshed?
The England NW & North 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.