What is the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK?
The UK record is 40.3°C, recorded at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on 19 July 2022. The Met Office verified it on 28 July 2022, along with national records of 37.1°C for Wales (Hawarden) and 34.8°C for Scotland (Charterhall).
The Met Office keeps the official national records by country and month on its UK climate extremes page. Long-run monthly and annual temperature, rainfall and sunshine series, starting in 1884 for temperature, are in its UK and regional series.
Readings reported on the day are provisional; a record counts only after quality checks of the station. Also check whether a claim is about a single day's maximum, a monthly or annual average, or the Central England Temperature series, which goes back to 1659.
When is the next figure out?
Official statistics from Defra and the Environment Agency are pre-announced on the GOV.UK release calendar and published at 9:30am. Storm overflow EDM data usually appear in late March; bathing water classifications in November; the Environment Agency's environmental performance report and Ofwat's performance report in the autumn. Live flood and air quality data have no release schedule.
Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.
Where the figures come from
- Environment Agency, Ofwat, Defra and Met Office environmental dataWhere to find Environment Agency sewage spill and water quality data, flood APIs, Ofwat performance, Defra air quality and Met Office climate records.
Related questions
- What are UK greenhouse gas emissions?
- How do I check flood warnings and flood risk for my area?
- How do I check air quality in my area?
This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about water, sewage, air and climate: all Water, sewage, air and climate questions.