Temperatures exceeded 37°C in several parts of the UK by Thursday afternoon, contributing to another record-breaking year of extreme heat.
The latest heat has set a new interim record for the number of days in a calendar year when UK temperatures have risen above 37°C.
Temperatures have exceeded 37°C only nine times since official records began, with three of those occasions occurring in 2026.
Thursday also marked the 38th day this year when temperatures surpassed 30°C somewhere in the UK, breaking the previous record of 34 days.
The latest figures add to a growing list of UK temperature records set in 2026.
Wednesday became the first August day on record this year to reach temperatures above 35°C. It was also the fourth consecutive month in which UK temperatures reached this level.
Ringwood in Norfolk recorded 38°C on June 26, setting a new UK record for the highest temperature recorded in June and the highest temperature so far this year.
The current record for the hottest August day in the UK is 38.5°C, recorded in 2003.
If temperatures remain above average throughout August, summer 2026 could replace 2025 as the hottest summer on record in the UK.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk