July 2026 Marks Driest and Sunniest Month on Record for England and Wales

The Met Office reported that July 2026 was the driest month ever recorded for England and Wales since systematic observations began — England received only 6.5 mm of rain and Wales 9.3 mm. Both totals are less than half of the previous records (England 13.4 mm in 1911; Wales 22.6 mm in 1911). Southern England measured a low of 1.9 mm, narrowly beating the February 1891 record of 2.0 mm. Across the United Kingdom, total rainfall was 28.9 mm, the lowest July total since 1868, making it the third driest July on record for the UK as a whole.

The IndependentBBC News

Sunshine was equally exceptional. England logged 305.6 hours of sunshine, surpassing the former July record of 294.8 hours set in 1911, while Wales recorded 308.0 hours, beating the 1955 record of 297.5 hours. The BBC noted that July 2026 was the sunniest calendar month ever observed for England and Wales and the UK’s sunniest July on record.

BBC News

Mean temperatures for the month were also near historic highs. Wales matched its highest mean temperature of 17.8 °C (record set in 2006), and England posted a mean of 19.2 °C, the second-warmest July on record, just shy of the 19.3 °C record of 2006. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) maintained amber and yellow heat-health alerts, warning that sustained high temperatures could increase pressure on the NHS and raise the risk of heat-related illness.

The Independent

The National Drought Group—comprising the Met Office, government bodies, regulators, water companies and farmers—stated that the extreme dryness is severely affecting water supplies and food production. Farmers reported parched cereals, early harvests, and an elevated risk of fires in combine harvesters. A notable wildfire burned on Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, and the month’s heatwaves contributed to an estimated 2,800 excess deaths across the summer.

The Independent

Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer warned that, although a shift to warmer conditions is expected early next week, much of the change will bring only scattered showers or thunderstorms, with limited rain for southern England. He noted that northern regions may see heavier rain, particularly over Scotland. Met Office science manager Dr Amy Doherty described July 2026 as “a truly remarkable month” in the UK’s climate record, emphasizing the combination of unprecedented dryness, warmth and sunshine.

The Independent

• “A change in weather type early next week will see warmer conditions return across England and Wales but in contrast to much of the summer, this will be associated with showers or perhaps thunderstorms for some places,” — Met Office

The Independent