UK Records Joint-Fourth Warmest September on Record, Met Office Reports

The United Kingdom experienced its joint-fourth warmest September on record in a series dating back to 1884, according to provisional data released by the Met Office. The month concluded with a provisional mean temperature of 14.6°C, tying with historical figures recorded in 1949 and 2016, driven in part by late-month warmth that peaked at 28.1°C on September 29.

The figures follow what was provisionally the hottest summer on record, continuing a series of above-average monthly mean temperatures across much of 2026. Met Office Climate Information Scientist Mike Kendon noted that high pressure was particularly prevalent in southern areas later in the month, aligning with a broader trend of more frequent above-average temperatures in the UK.

Temperature patterns varied across the devolved nations. England experienced its third warmest September on record, Northern Ireland recorded its fourth, and Wales saw its joint-sixth warmest. Scotland was just outside its top 10 warmest on record. Overnight minimum temperatures were also notably high, ranking as the joint-fourth highest average minimum for the UK as a whole, while Northern Ireland recorded its joint-highest average minimum.

Rainfall figures for September were near average overall but displayed significant regional variations. Scotland recorded more than a third above its monthly average rainfall, whereas parts of southern and eastern England remained particularly dry despite recent precipitation.

Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy stated that despite the rainfall, water deficits resulting from a dry spring and hot summer remain unresolved. Duffy warned that recovering normal levels in groundwater, rivers, and reservoirs will require months of sustained wet weather, noting that water supplies remain limited and several reservoirs are low.

Sunshine amounts across the UK were roughly average for the month, although Northern Ireland experienced comparatively dull conditions without breaking historical records.

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