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    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Hottest day of the year so far and close to all-time August record

15:44
13 August 2026

Close to August record
Hottest day of the year so far

Temperature map of London showing 38.1°C at Kew Gardens, with surrounding readings of 35–36°C and deep red shading indicating extreme heat.
A high recorded at Kew Gardens marks the hottest temperature of 2026.

Thursday has become the hottest day of the year in the UK after temperatures passed 38 degrees in London.

With a reading of 38.1°C at Kew Gardens Thursday afternoon, the day fractionally replaces the previous high for the year from June when a high of 38°C was recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk.

There is still a slight chance that the all-time August record temperature could be broken too. This currently stands at 38.5°C from 2003.

If the August record does not fall, it is unlikely to be beaten soon with temperatures dropping into the weekend as the heatwave across parts of England eases.

In London, the daily high on Sunday will fall by over 10 degrees to around 25°C. It's cooler still in the Midlands, Nottingham is expected to see a high around 19°C on Sunday, falling from the mid-30s.

August record check

The existing August record temperature from 2003, recorded at Faversham, Kent is now recognised as being from a weather station later found to be unreliable. The second hottest day ever stands at 38.1°C, now matched, also at Kew Gardens where this year's high was recorded.

Ryan Hathaway
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