September 2026 joint-fourth warmest on record in UK, Met Office says; drought persists

September 2026 was provisionally the joint fourth warmest September on record in the UK, according to the Met Office, with a mean temperature of 14.6C. 1 2 The BBC said that figure was 1.6C above the long-term average. The Evening Standard said it was below the September record of 15.2C set in 2023 and 2006, equal to 2016 and 1949, and just behind 2021's 14.7C. 1 2 Met Office climate scientist Mike Kendon described the month as unexceptional in itself but consistent with a pattern of more frequent above-average temperatures as the climate changes. 2 1

The Evening Standard said September was the sixth month in a row ranking in the all-time top 10, and listed this year's rankings: seventh warmest April, joint-third warmest May, second warmest June and July, and sixth warmest August. Met Office records begin in 1884. The BBC said the average UK temperature was more than 1C above the norm for the eighth month in a row. 2 1 The two outlets differ on the month's peak temperature: the BBC reported 28.6C at Northolt, London on 6 September, while the Evening Standard reported 28.1C at Kew Gardens, London on 29 September after a warm spell at the end of the month. The BBC also reported that Northern Ireland had its latest day on record above 25C, at 25.5C in Helen's Bay on 21 September. 1 2 UK rainfall was around average (the BBC gave 104%), but with large regional differences: the BBC said Scotland had nearly 40% more rain than average and parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire were very dry, while the Evening Standard said Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were all above average and England received only 65% of expected rainfall. 1 2

Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy said September's rain was welcome but nowhere near enough to reverse water deficits caused by a dry spring and record hot summer. Most of England and all of Wales remain in drought, with the North East, North West and Yorkshire the exceptions, and around 30 million people in England face water-use restrictions. Reservoir storage in England was 56% last week, nearly 19 percentage points below average. 1 2 The BBC said the Environment Agency has previously said 20% more rainfall than normal is needed over the next seven months for all areas to be out of drought. 1 Looking ahead, the BBC said 2026 is on track to be one of the warmest years. The Central England Temperature series is running 2.6C above average, but the rest of the year would need to be significantly cooler than average for 2026 not to beat 2025, currently the warmest on record. It said the Met Office expects a warmer than average rest of autumn and early winter as a strong El Niño peaks, and that 2027 could be warmer still. 1

The Evening Standard recalled the year's extremes: up to five heatwaves, a rare Met Office red alert for extreme heat, a June record of 38.0C at Lingwood, Norfolk on 26 June, England's driest July on record (7mm), and a year-high 38.2C at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire on 13 August. It said the UK Health Security Agency estimated 2,877 deaths in England were associated with the May and June heatwaves. 2