Scotland North Climate – June 2026 Update
City Coverage: Inverness, Fort William, Thurso, Oban, and Wick
This month in numbers
Scotland North experienced its 8th warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 12.4°C, a significant 1.7°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. The three-month period from April to June 2026 also ranked as the 10th warmest on record, at 9.43°C, 1.5°C above average. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June on record for land temperatures, and the April–June period ranked as the 2nd warmest globally, highlighting a widespread warming trend.
What changed
While temperatures soared, sunshine hours in Scotland North were notably below average in June, ranking 100th of 117 years on record with 114 hours, 33 hours less than the baseline. Rainfall, however, was considerably higher, with 125.6 mm, ranking 17th wettest on record for June, and the April–June period also saw above-average rainfall. This contrasts with the national picture for the UK, which generally experienced warmer and drier conditions in June.
What’s driving change?
The warmer temperatures are consistent with the ongoing global warming trend, exacerbated by the current weak El Niño event, which is forecast to strengthen and persist through the end of the year. El Niño typically brings milder, wetter, and windier conditions to northern Europe during autumn and early winter, and can increase the risk of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall and flooding. Indeed, Scotland experienced a record-breaking heatwave in late June, with temperatures reaching up to 31.2°C, followed by widespread thunderstorms and heavy rain across much of the country from June 25th to 26th, leading to flood alerts and warnings.
Looking ahead
The strengthening El Niño is likely to continue influencing weather patterns in the coming months, with a potential for milder, wetter, and windier conditions in Scotland North during autumn and early winter.
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 North
Data: Met Office UK Regional Series © Crown copyright. Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Scotland North – 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 North
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 North. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (6.6°C, from 1900–1929); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 9.7°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: May (+1.7°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 North
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 North changing?
Scotland North 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 North come from?
Climate data for Scotland North 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 North climate data cover?
The Scotland North climate profile covers Inverness, Fort William, Thurso, Oban and surrounding areas. Northern Highlands and west coast climate data
How often is the Scotland North climate update refreshed?
The Scotland North 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.