Northern Ireland Climate – June 2026 Update
City Coverage: Belfast, Derry, Lisburn, Newry, Bangor, and Armagh
This month in numbers
Northern Ireland experienced its 3rd warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 14.6°C, a significant 2.2°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This continues a trend of exceptional warmth, as the April–June 2026 period also ranked as the 3rd warmest on record, with an average of 11.63°C, 1.9°C above the baseline. Rainfall in June was notably high, reaching 135.6 mm, which is 62.7 mm above average and ranked as the 8th wettest June in 127 years.
What changed
The past three months have seen Northern Ireland experiencing significantly warmer conditions compared to the long-term average. This regional warming aligns with a broader global trend, as global land temperatures for April–June 2026 ranked as the 2nd warmest on record. Northern Ireland's June temperature anomaly of +2.2°C places it 51st out of 234 regions globally for the latest month, indicating a substantial deviation from its historical average. The UK as a whole also experienced a warmer than average June, with a mean temperature of 15.33°C, 2.4°C above average.
What’s driving change?
The exceptionally warm conditions in Northern Ireland during June and the preceding months were influenced by a heat dome that developed over western Europe and extended northwards, bringing exceptionally hot and humid weather. This period saw Northern Ireland equal its June maximum temperature record, with 30.8°C recorded at Castlederg on 25 June, matching the 1976 record. Additionally, a new June minimum temperature record was set at Murlough, with 19.1°C observed on 26 June, surpassing the previous record from 2025. The current weak El Niño phase, with a weekly Niño 3.4 SST anomaly of +1.8°C, is also contributing to the global warming trend, though its direct teleconnection for Northern Ireland typically suggests cooler late winters rather than a clear summer signal. You can track the evolving ENSO situation at ENSO.
Looking ahead
The long-range forecast for the end of July and into August suggests a mixed picture, with spells of low pressure and more unsettled weather becoming more likely, though temperatures are expected to remain warm or very warm, with further hot spells possible.
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 – Northern Ireland
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Northern Ireland – 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 – Northern Ireland
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 Northern Ireland. 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 9.5°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Jun (+1.8°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 Northern Ireland
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 Northern Ireland changing?
Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland come from?
Climate data for Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland climate data cover?
The Northern Ireland climate profile covers Belfast, Derry, Lisburn, Newry and surrounding areas. Northern Ireland climate data from Belfast to the north-west
How often is the Northern Ireland climate update refreshed?
The Northern Ireland 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.