Scotland Climate – June 2026 Update
City Coverage: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Inverness
This month in numbers
Scotland experienced its 5th warmest June on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 13°C, a notable 1.8°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. Globally, June 2026 ranked as the 3rd warmest June for land temperatures, with an anomaly of +1°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. The month also saw significant rainfall, ranking as the 20th wettest June on record with 118.7 mm, which is 34.1 mm above average.
What changed
The period of April to June 2026 was Scotland's 8th warmest on record, with an average temperature of 10°C, 1.6°C above the long-term average. This trend aligns with the global picture, where the April–June 2026 period was the 2nd warmest on record for global land temperatures, with an anomaly of +1°C. Scotland experienced a warm spell in late June, with temperatures reaching 31.2°C in Threave, Dumfries and Galloway, marking the hottest day of the year for the country. However, Scotland did not break its all-time June temperature record of 32.3°C set in 1893.
What’s driving change?
The ongoing weak El Niño event, with a current anomaly of +0.98°C, is a contributing factor to the warmer global temperatures. While El Niño's impact on the UK and Scotland is typically indirect, it can increase the likelihood of more unsettled conditions later in the year, including a higher chance of milder, wetter, and windier weather during autumn and early winter. The Met Office has indicated that this El Niño is likely to be a significant event, potentially one of the most intense on record. Scotland also experienced widespread thunderstorm warnings on June 26, 2026, with risks of heavy rain, large hail, frequent lightning, and gusty winds, following an exceptionally muggy night.
Looking ahead
The NOAA CPC forecast indicates a 100% probability of El Niño continuing through the autumn and early winter, which could bring milder, wetter, and windier conditions to Scotland during those months.
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 – Scotland
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Scotland – 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 – Scotland
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 Scotland. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (6.8°C, from 1900–1929); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 10.2°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: May (+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 Scotland
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 Scotland changing?
Scotland 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 Scotland come from?
Climate data for Scotland 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 Scotland climate data cover?
The Scotland climate profile covers Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and surrounding areas. Wind energy leader with distinct climate targets
How often is the Scotland climate update refreshed?
The Scotland 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.