September 2026 became one of the hottest Septembers on record for the U.K. after temperatures climbed to 28.1 degrees Celsius (82.6 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sept. 29. And drought recovery in parts of England may still take months.
Here's what to know
According to The Independent, provisional Met Office data place September 2026 alongside 1949 and 2016 in the records. At the same time, it was still 4 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the September peaks reached in 2006 and 2023.
Met Office climate information scientist Mike Kendon said, "Persistent warmth has been the theme of recent months and September is no different. September 2026 was the joint-fourth warmest September on record in the series for the U.K., with high pressure particularly prevalent in southern areas later in the month."
Regional results varied across the U.K. Met Office data shows that September ranked joint-sixth warmest in Wales, third warmest in England, and fourth warmest in Northern Ireland. Rainfall overall was close to average, but England was still described as "relatively dry" compared with the other nations.
The U.K. had already gone through back-to-back heat waves from June through August that pushed more than 70% of the country into an official drought, leaving water systems under strain even after some rain returned.
More background
"While the month itself was unexceptional overall, when putting it into the context of the warm year we've had so far," Kendon said, "this fits with the general pattern that we're seeing of more frequent above average temperatures in the U.K. as our climate continues to change."
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Low reservoir levels are among the signs that the dry spring and record-hot summer are still having effects, the Environment Agency has said.
The Independent reported that Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy said, "September's rainfall has been welcome, but a few weeks of unsettled weather is nowhere near enough to reverse the water deficits caused by a dry spring and record-hot summer."
Drought can strain drinking water supplies and drive up costs for communities already dealing with heat-related health risks. When reservoirs and groundwater remain depleted for months, households and local ecosystems face a more fragile recovery.
Forecasters expect conditions to turn cooler and more unsettled in a shift linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon, The Independent reported.
What can be done?
"We still need everyone to use a little less water to speed up the drought recovery and save more for our local rivers, farmers, and wildlife," Duffy advised.
Even with slightly improved rainfall, the Environment Agency says the drought is not over yet.
Duffy said, "Drought is only over when groundwater, rivers, and reservoirs are back to normal levels — and that will take months of significant and sustained wet weather."
Where can I learn more?
Drought and shifting weather patterns are impacting the U.K. and beyond.
• Across the U.K., flooding and 80 mph winds showed how volatile weather extremes can become.
• Worldwide, megadroughts that can last for decades are becoming a growing threat.
• Hot drought conditions in the Potomac basin are reshaping long-term water availability.
• In Ireland, April heat records underscored how rapidly spring temperatures can spike.
• Irish forecasters warned hotter weather trends may arrive a decade earlier than expected.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
