Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    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

More on the topic

Further fog disruption expected. Growing dense overnight. . . Monday, 9 November 2026
Weather map showing widespread fog across the English Midlands, with a red fog warning symbol near Nottingham and temperatures of 4–6°C.
Monday, 9 November 2026

Growing dense overnight

Further fog disruption expected
Heavy rain again in the south of France. Another bout of disruption. . . Wednesday, 4 November 2026
Split image showing heavy rain and lightning near Montpellier, Marseille and Monaco on a weather map, alongside cars stranded on a flooded road.
Wednesday, 4 November 2026

Another bout of disruption

Heavy rain again in the south of France
Front brings showers from the south-west. Brolly needed for some. . . Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Weather map showing blue rain bands across southern Ireland, Wales and southwest England, with a northeastward arrow and temperatures of 7–10°C.
Tuesday, 10 November 2026

Brolly needed for some

Front brings showers from the south-west
All weather news

This might also interest you

Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
A stormy week in the skies above. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 30 August 2026
Split image showing lightning branching beneath dark storm clouds above rooftops on the left and an orange-pink sunset over a calm sea on the right.
Sunday, 30 August 2026

Your weather - Your shots

A stormy week in the skies above
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday, 24 January 2026
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday, 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList