England SE & Central South Climate – June 2026 Update
City Coverage: London, Oxford, Reading, Southampton, Portsmouth, and Brighton
This month in numbers
England SE & Central South experienced its warmest June on record, with a mean temperature of 18.1°C, an anomaly of +3.8°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. This also made the April–June 2026 period the warmest on record for the region, at 14.43°C, an anomaly of +3.3°C. The region also saw its 3rd sunniest April–June on record, with 728 hours of sunshine, 172 hours above average. Frost days in June were virtually non-existent, ranking 94th of 96 years on record with 0 days. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest on record for land temperatures, with the April–June period ranking as the 2nd warmest.
What changed
The exceptionally warm June contributed to a significantly warmer-than-average spring and early summer for England SE & Central South. The region's mean temperature anomaly of +3.79°C for June placed it 16th globally out of 234 regions, highlighting the intensity of the heat experienced here. For the three-month period of April–June, the region ranked 15th globally with an anomaly of +3.25°C. This contrasts with the national picture, where the UK as a whole also experienced above-average temperatures, but the anomaly for England SE & Central South was notably higher.
What’s driving change?
A significant factor driving the extreme warmth in England SE & Central South during June was a severe heat dome that settled over much of central and southern England and Wales. The Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat, indicating a risk to life, with temperatures expected to reach up to 40°C in some areas. This unprecedented June heatwave was exacerbated by high humidity. The ongoing weak El Niño event, currently in place and forecast to continue through the end of the year, also typically contributes to warmer and drier summers across the UK, particularly in southern and central regions, by weakening the Atlantic jet stream.
Looking ahead
With El Niño forecast to strengthen and persist through the end of 2026, there is an increased likelihood of continued warmer-than-average conditions and a potential for further extreme weather events 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 SE & Central South
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
England SE & Central South – 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 SE & Central South
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 SE & Central South. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (9.4°C, from 1900–1929); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 12.1°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Jun (+2.2°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 SE & Central South
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 SE & Central South changing?
England SE & Central South 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 SE & Central South come from?
Climate data for England SE & Central South 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 SE & Central South climate data cover?
The England SE & Central South climate profile covers London, Oxford, Reading, Southampton and surrounding areas. London, the South East and Central Southern England climate data
How often is the England SE & Central South climate update refreshed?
The England SE & Central South 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.