00:00The summer of 2026 has been confirmed as the UK's hottest on record, according to provisional
00:07net office figures. The average temperature was 16.5 degrees Celsius, beating the previous
00:14record set just last year. The heat was persistent with repeated hot spells and more days above
00:2030 degrees than ever recorded. England, Wales and Northern Ireland also recorded their warmest
00:26summers on record, while Scotland had its joint sixth warmest. For households, the effects
00:32were practical, prolonged heat, dry conditions and water pressure in some areas. The Met
00:38office says climate change made a summer like this around 130 times more likely.
