England SW & South Wales Climate – June 2026 Update
City Coverage: Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Bath, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, and Bournemouth
This month in numbers
England SW & South Wales experienced its warmest April–June period on record, with an average temperature of 13.3°C, an anomaly of +2.8°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. June 2026 alone ranked as the 2nd warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 16.5°C, an anomaly of +3.1°C. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June on record for land temperatures, and the April–June period ranked as the 2nd warmest.
What changed
The exceptionally warm April–June period for England SW & South Wales stands out, with the region experiencing its warmest such period in 127 years of records. This continues a long-term warming trend for the region, which has seen an increase of +1.35°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. The UK as a whole also experienced significantly warmer than average temperatures in June, with an anomaly of +2.4°C.
What’s driving change?
The pronounced warmth in England SW & South Wales this past quarter is consistent with the broader trend of . Additionally, a weak El Niño is currently active, with a +0.98°C anomaly in the NOAA ONI 3-month (April-June 2026) and is forecast to continue as a strong El Niño throughout the rest of 2026. While El Niño's direct impact on UK summer temperatures is typically not significant, it can amplify global heat, contributing to higher global temperatures. The region also experienced an unprecedented heatwave in June, with the Met Office issuing a rare red extreme heat warning for parts of England and Wales, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 40°C in some places. This extreme heat event was accompanied by high humidity, exacerbating health impacts. More information on global climate patterns can be found at ENSO.
Looking ahead
The ongoing El Niño is expected to continue and potentially strengthen in the coming months, which could lead to a temporary spike in global annual temperatures and potentially influence UK weather patterns later in the year, with a higher chance of milder, wetter, and windier conditions during autumn and early winter.
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 SW & South Wales
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
England SW & South 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 SW & South 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 SW & South Wales. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (9.2°C, from 1900–1929); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 10.7°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 SW & South 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 SW & South Wales changing?
England SW & South 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 SW & South Wales come from?
Climate data for England SW & South 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 SW & South Wales climate data cover?
The England SW & South Wales climate profile covers Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Bath and surrounding areas. South-west England and south Wales climate data
How often is the England SW & South Wales climate update refreshed?
The England SW & South 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.