The UK has officially recorded its hottest summer on record for extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 35°C for the sixth time in 2026, according to the Met Office.
The milestone makes 2026 the first year in UK history to experience six separate days with temperatures reaching or surpassing 35°C. The previous record was shared by 1976 and 2020, when temperatures topped 35°C on five occasions.
The latest high of 35.2°C was recorded at Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, as Britain prepares for its third heatwave in just three months.
The Met Office also confirmed that 2026 is the first year on record to record temperatures of 35°C or higher across three different calendar months. In addition, the country has already experienced nine days with temperatures reaching at least 34°C, setting another new record for sustained summer heat.
Hosepipe Ban Introduced Across South East England
As soaring temperatures and prolonged dry weather continue to strain water supplies, Affinity Water has announced a hosepipe ban affecting around 1.1 million households across South East England.
The restrictions will come into force on 17 July and apply to customers in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and parts of London.
Under the temporary ban, residents will not be permitted to use hosepipes for activities including:
- Watering gardens and lawns
- Washing cars
- Cleaning patios, driveways and windows
- Filling swimming pools and paddling pools
Affinity Water said the decision was necessary due to exceptionally high water demand combined with prolonged dry conditions that have placed increasing pressure on local water resources.
Stephen Plumb of Affinity Water said the company had not taken the decision lightly but stressed that immediate action was needed to protect supplies for customers, vulnerable communities and the environment.
He thanked customers for their efforts to reduce water consumption and urged households to continue conserving water, adding that every litre saved helps safeguard supplies during the ongoing heatwave.
