Met Office Confirms UK’s Warmest Summer — Bridlington Among the Sunniest Spots

Thursday 10th September 2026

By Bridlington Gold Radio Editor

Bridlington has sizzled through the hottest summer on record, as the Met Office confirms Summer 2026 was the warmest season ever recorded in the UK, with an average mean temperature of 16.5°C — the highest since records began in 1884. The season’s exceptional warmth was made around 130 times more likely due to human-induced climate change, according to Met Office scientists.

🌡️ A Summer of Unprecedented Heat

From the second warmest June and July on record to a balmy August, the heat barely let up. Bridlington and the East Yorkshire coast saw consistent warmth, with local temperatures often exceeding 25°C, and sunshine hours well above average. Across the UK, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland all broke their respective mean temperature records, while Scotland logged its joint-sixth warmest summer.

Dr Amy Doherty, Head of the National Climate Information Centre, said:

“These records are now breaking with increasing frequency, reflecting the influence of human-induced climate change on the temperatures we’re experiencing in the UK.”

The previous record set in 2025 has already been surpassed, pushing the legendary summer of 1976 down to seventh place. The top five warmest UK summers are now:

1. 2026 – 16.5°C

2. 2025 – 16.1°C

3. 2018 – 15.7°C

4. 2006 – 15.7°C

5. 2003 – 15.7°C

🔥 Record-Breaking Temperatures

Daily highs reached 38.1°C at Kew Gardens on 13 August, while Lingwood in Norfolk hit 38.0°C in June, setting a new monthly record. In total, 54 Met Office stations broke their all-time daily maximum temperature records.

🌍 Climate Change: The Driving Force

A rapid attribution study found that such a summer is now 130 times more likely because of human-induced climate change. Dr Mark McCarthy, Head of Climate Attribution, explained:

“In a climate unaffected by human emissions, a summer like this would be a one-in-a-thousand-year event. In our current climate, it’s roughly a one-in-nine-year occurrence.”

🌦️ Dry Days and Sunshine Galore

Despite late-season rain, Bridlington and much of southern England saw below-average rainfall. The UK recorded its third driest July on record, with England’s driest July ever. High pressure systems brought abundant sunshine, making it the sixth sunniest UK summer on record — and the second sunniest for England and Wales.

Bridlington enjoyed well over 700 hours of sunshine, with coastal areas glowing under 130% of average sunshine duration.

Provisional Summer 2026 Statistics

🌤️ August: A Month of Contrasts

August brought a split between north and south — Bridlington and East Yorkshire basked in above-average sunshine and warmth, while Scotland saw cooler, wetter conditions. England’s mean temperature was 1.9°C above average, with seven counties breaking their August temperature records.

🔮 Looking Ahead

Met Office climate projections suggest that summers like 2026 could become average in a world 2.5–3°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. Dr James Pope noted:

“If emissions continue, summers like this will become the norm — hotter, drier, and more frequent.”