The UK experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, with temperatures averaging 21.3°C, 2.4°C above the 1991-2020 baseline, and rainfall 23% below normal at 195mm. Southern England and Wales saw the most extreme heat, while droughts were declared across much of the country except northwestern Scotland.
Arctic temperatures in northern Russia have exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit this week, breaking heat records as the region warms four times faster than the global average due to sea ice loss and reflective feedback loops. Rising temperatures are expected to continue and intensify through 2027 due to an anticipated strong El Niño, with record heat already being set across the United States.