Britain is on course to record its warmest summer on record for the second year in a row, the UK Met Office says. It says the country is already meeting conditions for a new record mean temperature and is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the season.
The current summer average mean temperature (from June 1 to August 10) is reported at 16.48°C. The previous record, set last year, had a mean temperature of about 16.10–16.1°C, surpassing an earlier record of 15.76°C from 2018. The Met Office says that only average conditions for the rest of August would be enough to beat last year’s benchmark.
Alongside the heat, outlets report low rainfall and drought impacts. Almost three-quarters of England and all of Wales are described as being in drought, with England and Wales also reported to have experienced their driest July on record. Health and societal impacts are also noted, including disruptions and excess deaths attributed to the heat. While one outlet emphasizes the temperature record itself, others focus more on the wider effects, including drought and heatwave-related risks, and the role of climate change in intensifying extremes.
