Climate and climate change

UK climate extremes

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These pages are a source of information for those interested in the climate of the UK. UK Climate pages are updated each month to reflect the latest month's weather across the UK.

Weather extremes

The tables show the national weather records. To ensure consistency, these weather records are only given for stations with standard instruments and exposure. Although some records have been broken by non-standard stations, these are not accepted as official records for this reason.

See also

Temperature by country

Highest daily maximum temperature records

Country Temperature (°C) Date Location
England 40.3 19 July 2022 Coningsby (Lincolnshire)
Wales 37.1 18 July 2022 Hawarden Airport (Flintshire)
Scotland 34.8 19 July 2022 Charterhall (Scottish Borders)
Northern Ireland 31.3 21 July 2021 Castlederg (County Tyrone)

Highest daily minimum temperature records

Country Temperature (°C) Date Location
England 26.8 19 July 2022 Shirburn Model Farm (Oxfordshire)
Wales 24.5 19 July 2022 Aberporth (Ceredigion)
Scotland 20.9 26 July 2019 Achnagart (Highland)
Northern Ireland 19.6 14 August 2001 Belfast, Whitehouse (County Antrim)

Lowest daily maximum temperature records

Country Temperature (°C) Date Location
Scotland -15.9 29 December 1995 Fyvie Castle (Aberdeenshire)
England -11.3 11 January 1982 Newport (Shropshire)
Northern Ireland -11.3 23 December 2010 Edenfel (County Tyrone)
Wales -8.0 12 January 1987 Trecastle (Dyfed)

Lowest daily minimum temperature records

Country Temperature (°C) Date Location
Scotland -27.2 10 January 1982 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
Scotland -27.2 11 February 1895 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
Scotland -27.2 30 December 1995 Altnaharra (Highland)
England -26.1 10 January 1982 Newport (Shropshire)
Wales -23.3 21 January 1940 Rhayader (Powys)
Northern Ireland -18.7 24 December 2010 Castlederg (County Tyrone)

Temperature by month

Country
Record Type

United Kingdom: Highest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January 19.9 28 January 2024 Achfary (Sutherland)
February 21.2 26 February 2019 Kew Gardens (London)
March* 25.6 29 March 1968 Mepal (Cambridgeshire)
April* 29.4 16 April 1949^ Camden Square (London)
May* 32.8 22 May 1922^ Camden Square (London)
May* 32.8 29 May 1944 Horsham (West Sussex)
May* 32.8 29 May 1944 Tunbridge Wells (Kent)
May* 32.8 29 May 1944 Regent's Park (London)
June* 35.6 29 June 1957^ Camden Square (London)
June* 35.6 28 June 1976 Southampton Mayflower Park
July 40.3 19 July 2022 Coningsby (Lincolnshire)
August 38.5 10 August 2003 Faversham (Kent)
September* 35.6 2 September 1906^ Bawtry, Hesley Hall (South Yorkshire)
October 29.9 1 October 2011 Gravesend (Kent)
November 22.4 1 November 2015 Trawsgoed (Ceredigion)
December 18.7 28 December 2019 Achfary (Sutherland)

United Kingdom: Highest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January 13.2 1 January 2022 Chivenor (Devon)
February 13.9 23 February 2019 Achnagart (Highland)
March 14.2 18 March 1990 Arthog (Gwynedd)
April 15.9 19 April 2018 Kenley Airfield (Greater London)
May 18.9 31 May 1947 Folkestone (Kent)
June 22.7 28 June 1976^ Ventnor Park (Isle of Wight)
July 26.8 19 July 2022 Shirburn Model Farm (Oxfordshire)
August 23.9 3 August 1990 Brighton (East Sussex)
September 21.7 5 September 1949 St James's Park (London)
October 19.4 1 October 1985 Aber (Gwynedd)
November 15.9 3 November 2005 Eastbourne (East Sussex)
December 15.0 12 December 1994 Hawarden Airport (Flintshire)

United Kingdom: Lowest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January -13.0 10 January 1982 West Linton (Scottish Borders)
February -10.0 9 February 1895 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
February -10.0 1 February 1956 Princetown (Devon)
March -4.7 1 March 2018 Tredegar (Blaenau Gwent)
April -1.1 1 April 1917 Durham
April -1.1 1 April 1917 Macclesfield (Cheshire)
May 1.6 8 May 1917 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
May 1.6 1 May 1979 Knockanrock (Highland)
June 5.1 2 June 1975 Nunraw Abbey (East Lothian)
July 7.5 5 July 1978 Clashnoir (Banffshire)
August 8.9 27 August 1919 Ampleforth (North Yorkshire)
August 8.9 28 August 1919 Bradford (West Yorkshire)
August 8.9 28 August 1919 Newton Rigg (Cumbria)
August 8.9 18 August 1964 Lerwick (Shetland)
September 4.4 29 September 1915 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
October 0.4 17 October 1973 Glenmore Lodge (Inverness-shire)
November -11.1 29 November 1912 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
November -11.1 14 November 1919 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
December -15.9 29 December 1995 Fyvie Castle (Aberdeenshire)

United Kingdom: Lowest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January* -27.2 10 January 1982 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
February* -27.2 11 February 1895 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
March* -22.8 14 March 1958 Logie Coldstone (Aberdeenshire)
April -15.4 2 April 1917 Eskdalemuir (Dumfriesshire)
May* -9.4 4 May 1941 Lynford (Norfolk)
May* -9.4 11 May 1941 Lynford (Norfolk)
June* -5.6 1 June 1962 Santon Downham (Norfolk)
June* -5.6 3 June 1962 Santon Downham (Norfolk)
June* -5.6 9 June 1955 Dalwhinnie (Highland)
July* -2.5 15 July 1977 Lagganlia (Inverness-shire)*
August* -4.5 21 August 1973 Lagganlia (Inverness-shire)
September* -6.7 26 September 1942 Dalwhinnie (Highland)
October* -11.7 28 October 1948 Dalwhinnie (Highland)
November* -23.3 14 November 1919 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
December* -27.2 30 December 1995 Altnaharra (Highland)

England: Highest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January 17.6 27 January 2003 Eynsford (Kent)
February 21.2 26 February 2019 Kew Gardens(London)
March 25.6 29 March 1968 Mepal (Cambridgeshire)
April* 29.4 16 April 1949^ Camden Square (London)
May* 32.8 22 May 1922^ Camden Square (London)
May* 32.8 29 May 1944 Horsham (West Sussex)
May* 32.8 29 May 1944 Tunbridge Wells (Kent)
May* 32.8 29 May 1944 Regent's Park (London)
June* 35.6 29 June 1957^ Camden Square (London)
June* 35.6 28 June 1976 Southampton Mayflower Park
July 40.3 19 July 2022 Coningsby (Lincolnshire)
August 38.5 10 August 2003 Faversham (Kent)
September* 35.6 2 September 1906^ Bawtry, Hesley Hall (South Yorkshire)
October 29.9 1 October 2011 Gravesend (Kent)
November* 21.1 5 November 1938 Chelmsford, Clacton, Galleywood, Halstead, Writtle (Essex)
November* 21.1 5 November 1938 Cambridge
November* 21.1 5 November 1938 Mildenhall (Suffolk)
November* 21.1 5 November 1938 Tottenham (London)
December* 17.7 2 December 1985 Chivenor (Devon)
December* 17.7 11 December 1994 Penkridge (Staffordshire)

England: Highest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January 13.2 1 January 2022 Chivenor (Devon)
February 13.0 4 February 2004 Mannington Hall (Norfolk)
March 13.0 19 March 1990 Stanstead Abbots (Hertfordshire)
April 15.9 19 April 2018 Kenley Airfield (Greater London)
May 18.9 31 May 1947 Folkestone (Kent)
June 22.7 28 June 1976^ Ventnor Park (Isle of Wight)
July 26.8 19 July 2022 Shirburn Model Farm (Oxfordshire)
August 23.9 3 August 1990 Brighton (East Sussex)
September 21.7 5 September 1949 St James's Park (London)
October 18.6 1 October 2011 Emley Moor (West Yorkshire)
November 15.9 3 November 2005 Eastbourne (East Sussex)
December 13.7 12 December 1994 Whitby (North Yorkshire)

England: Lowest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January -11.3 11 January 1982 Newport (Shropshire)
February -10.0 1 February 1956 Princetown (Devon)
March -3.7 1 March 2018 Little Rissington (Gloucestershire)
March -3.7 1 March 2018 Pennerley (Shropshire)
April -1.1 1 April 1917 Durham
April -1.1 1 April 1917 Macclesfield (Cheshire)
May 2.1 5 May 1997 Boltshope Park (County Durham)
June 5.7 2 June 1998 Boltshope Park (County Durham)
July 9.1 5 July 1978 Okehampton (Devon)
August 8.9 27 August 1919 Ampleforth (North Yorkshire)
August 8.9 28 August 1919 Bradford (West Yorkshire)
August 8.9 28 August 1919 Newton Rigg (Cumbria)
September 6.2 27 September 1974 Malham Tarn (North Yorkshire)
October 1.1 31 October 1934 Buxton (Derbyshire)
October 1.1 31 October 1934 Macclesfield (Cheshire)
November -4.0 30 November 1978 Pontefract (West Yorkshire)
December -8.2 19 December 2010 Pershore (Worcestershire)

England: Lowest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January* -26.1 10 January 1982 Newport (Shropshire)
February -22.2 19 February 1892 Scaleby (Cumbria)
February -22.2 8 February 1895 Ketton (Leicestershire)
March* -21.1 4 March 1947 Houghall (County Durham)
April* -15.0 2 April 1917 Newton Rigg (Cumbria)
May* -9.4 4 May 1941 Lynford (Norfolk)
May* -9.4 11 May 1941 Lynford (Norfolk)
June* -5.6 1 June 1962 Santon Downham (Norfolk)
June* -5.6 3 June 1962 Santon Downham (Norfolk)
July -1.7 17 July 1965 Kielder Castle (Northumberland)
August -2.0 14 August 1994 Kielder Castle (Northumberland)
September -5.6 30 September 1969 Santon Downham (Norfolk)
September -5.6 30 September 1969 Grendon Underwood (Buckinghamshire)
October -10.6 17 October 1993 Wark (Northumberland)
November -16.1 30 November 1912 Scaleby (Cumbria)
December* -25.2 13 December 1981 Shawbury (Shropshire)

Wales: Highest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January* 18.3 10 January 1971 Aber (Gwynedd)
January* 18.3 27 January 1958 Aber (Gwynedd)
February 20.8 26 February 2019 Porthmadog (Gwynedd)
March 23.9 29 March 1965 Prestatyn (Denbighshire)
March 23.9 29 March 1965 Ceinws (Powys)
April 26.2 16 April 2003 Gogerddan (Ceredigion)
May 30.6 29 May 1944 Newport (Monmouthshire)
June 33.7 18 June 2000 Machynlleth (Powys)
July 37.1 18 July 2022 Hawarden Airport (Flintshire)
August 35.2 2 August 1990 Hawarden Bridge (Flintshire)
September 32.3 1 September 1906 Hawarden Bridge (Flintshire)
October 28.2 1 October 2011 Hawarden Airport (Flintshire)
November 22.4 1 November 2015 Trawsgoed (Ceredigion)
December* 18.0 18 December 1972 Aber (Gwynedd)

Wales: Highest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January 12.8 1 January 2022 Trawsgoed (Ceredigion)
February 13.0 12 February 1998 Hawarden Airport (Flintshire)
March 14.2 18 March 1990 Arthog (Gwynedd)
April 14.5 28 April 1994 Hawarden Bridge (Flintshire)
May 18.6 17 May 2002 Llanbedr (Gwynedd)
June 20.0 25 June 2023 Prestatyn (Denbighshire)
July 24.5 19 July 2022 Aberporth (Ceredigion)
August 22.0 2 August 1995 Porthmadog (Gwynedd)
September 20.5 8 September 2021 Aberporth (Ceredigion)
October 19.4 1 October 1985 Aber (Gwynedd)
November 15.0 3 November 1927 Llandudno (Gwynedd)
November 15.0 5 November 1938 Colwyn Bay (Conwy)
December 15.0 12 December 1994 Hawarden Airport (Flintshire)

Wales: Lowest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January -8.0 12 January 1987 Trecastle (Dyfed)
February -5.8 10 February 1985 Cwmbargoed (West Glamorgan)
March -4.7 1 March 2018 Tredegar (Blaenau Gwent)
April 0.0 14 April 1966 Lake Vyrnwy (Powys)
April 0.0 14 April 1966 Crumbland Plantation (near Tintern, Monmouthshire)
April 0.0 15 April 1966 Bwlchgwyn (Denbighshire)
May 3.1 1 May 1979 Moel Cynnedd (near Plynlimon, Powys)
June 6.9 2 June 1975 Alwen (Conwy)
July 9.8 3 July 1978 Bwlchgwyn (Denbighshire)
August 10.0 12 August 1967 Bwlchgwyn (Denbighshire)
August 10.0 23 August 1979 Bwlchgwyn (Denbighshire)
September 6.5 27 September 1974 Alwen (Conwy)
September 6.5 27 September 1974 Lake Vyrnwy (Powys)
October 2.2 29 October 2008 Alwen (Conwy)
November -5.6 28 November 2010 Llysdinam (Powys)
December -7.8 25 December 2010 Llysdinam (Powys)

Wales: Lowest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January* -23.3 21 January 1940 Rhayader (Powys)
February* -20.0 2 February 1954 Welshpool (Powys)
March* -21.7 3 March 1965 Corwen (Denbighshire)
April -11.2 11 April 1978 Corwen (Denbighshire)
May -6.2 14 May 2020 St Harmon (Powys)
June -4.0 8 June 1985 St Harmon (Powys)
July -1.5 3 July 1984 St Harmon (Powys)
August -2.8 29 August 1959 Alwen (Conwy)
September -5.5 19 September 1986 St Harmon (Powys)
October -9.4 26 October 1931 Rhayader, Penvalley (Powys)
November -18.0 28 November 2010 Llysdinam (Powys)
December -22.7 13 December 1981 Corwen (Denbighshire)

Scotland: Highest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January 19.9 28 January 2024 Achfary (Sutherland)
February 18.3 21 February 2019 Aboyne (Aberdeenshire)
March 23.6 27 March 2012 Aboyne (Aberdeenshire)
April 27.2 17 April 2003 Inverailort (Highland)
May 30.9 25 May 2012 Inverailort (Highland)
June* 32.2 18 June 1893 Ochtertyre (Perth and Kinross)
July 34.8 19 July 2022 Charterhall (Scottish Borders)
August 32.9 9 August 2003 Greycrook (Scottish Borders)
September 32.2 1 September 1906 Gordon Castle (Moray)
October 27.4 3 October 1908 Tillypronie (Aberdeenshire)
November 20.6 4 November 1946 Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden
November 20.6 4 November 1946 Liberton (Edinburgh)
December 18.7 28 December 2019 Achfary (Sutherland)

Scotland: Highest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January 12.6 25 January 2016 Achnagart (Highland)
February 13.9 23 February 2019 Achnagart (Highland)
March 12.7 9 March 1948 Benmore (Argyll)
March 12.7 30 March 2021 Kinloss (Moray)
April 15.2 15 April 2007 Inverailort (Highland)
May 17.4 30 May 2009 Inverailort (Highland)
June 19.3 11 June 2006 Achnagart (Ross & Cromarty)
July 20.9 26 July 2019 Achnagart (Highland)
August 20.5 2 August 1995 Creebridge (Wigtownshire)
September 18.7 29 September 2011 Achnagart (Ross & Cromarty)
October 16.1 1 October 1908 Edinburgh (Blackford Hill)
October 16.1 13 October 1949 Nairn (Highland)
October 16.1 2 October 1953 Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden
October 16.1 4 October 1959 Kinloch (Isle of Rhum)
October 16.1 9 October 1995 Inverailort (Highland)
October 16.1 7 October 2013 Kinloss (Moray)
November 14.9 11 November 2022 Banff Golf Club (Banffshire)
December 12.5 11 December 1994 Haddington (East Lothian)
December 12.5 11 December 2013 Achfary (Sutherland)
December 12.5 13 December 2013 Achnagart (Highland)

Scotland: Lowest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January -13.0 10 January 1982 West Linton (Scottish Borders)
February -10.0 9 February 1895 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
March -4.6 2 March 2001 Cassley (Sutherland)
April -1.0 8 April 1975 Dalwhinnie (Highland)
May 1.6 8 May 1917 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
May 1.6 1 May 1979 Knockanrock (Highland)
June 5.1 2 June 1975 Nunraw Abbey (East Lothian)
July 7.5 5 July 1978 Clashnoir (Banffshire)
August 8.9 18 August 1964 Lerwick (Shetland)
September 4.4 29 September 1915 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
October 0.4 17 October 1973 Glenmore Lodge (Inverness-shire)
November -11.1 29 November 1912 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
November -11.1 14 November 1919 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
December -15.9 29 December 1995 Fyvie Castle (Aberdeenshire)

Scotland: Lowest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January* -27.2 10 January 1982 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
February* -27.2 11 February 1895 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
March* -22.8 14 March 1958 Logie Coldstone (Aberdeenshire)
April -15.4 2 April 1917 Eskdalemuir (Dumfriesshire)
May -8.8 1 May 1927 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
June* -5.6 9 June 1955 Dalwhinnie (Highland)
July* -2.5 15 July 1977 Lagganlia (Inverness-shire)
August* -4.5 21 August 1973 Lagganlia (Inverness-shire)
September* -6.7 26 September 1942 Dalwhinnie (Highland)
October* -11.7 28 October 1948 Dalwhinnie (Highland)
November* -23.3 14 November 1919 Braemar (Aberdeenshire)
December* -27.2 30 December 1995 Altnaharra (Highland)

Northern Ireland: Highest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January 16.4 26 January 2003 Knockarevan (County Fermanagh)
February 17.8 13 February 1998 Bryansford (County Down)
March 21.8 29 March 1965 Armagh (County Armagh)
April 24.5 26 April 1984 Boom Hall (County Londonderry)
May 28.3 31 May 1922 Lisburn (County Antrim)
June 30.8 30 June 1976 Knockarevan (County Fermanagh)
July 31.3 21 July 2021 Castlederg (County Tyrone)
August 30.6 2 August 1995 Tandragee Ballylisk (County Armagh)
September 28.0 8 September 2023 Castlederg (County Tyrone)
October 24.1 10 October 1969 Strabane (County Tyrone)
November 18.5 3 November 1979 Murlough (County Down)
November 18.5 1 November 2007 Murlough (County Down)
November 18.5 10 November 2015 Murlough (County Down)
December 16.7 2 December 1948 Ballykelly (County Londonderry)

Northern Ireland: Highest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January 13.1 25 January 2016 Magilligan (County Londonderry)
February 12.8 12 February 1998 Belfast, Danesfort (County Antrim)
February 12.8 13 February 1998 Portrush (County Antrim)
March 13.1 18 March 2005 Newry (County Down)
April 13.9 28 April 1994 Belfast, Newforge (County Down)
April 13.9 6 April 2011 Belfast, Ravenhill Road (County Down)
May 15.6 26 May 2012 Killowen (County Down)
June 17.5 18 June 2005 Annaghmore (County Armagh)
June 17.5 14 June 2023 Portglenone (County Antrim)
July 19.5 19 July 2022 Trassey Slievenaman (County Down)
August 19.6 14 August 2001 Belfast, Whitehouse (County Antrim)
September 18.3 5 September 1999 Belfast, Ravenhill Road (County Down)
October 16.6 1 October 1985 Aghanloo (County Londonderry)
November 14.5 11 November 2022 Magilligan (County Londonderry)
December 14.3 11 December 1994 Murlough (County Down)

Northern Ireland: Lowest daily maximum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January -5.6 4 January 1867 Armagh (County Armagh)
February -3.9 7 February 1969 Creightons Green (County Down)
March -1.2 1 March 1965 Black Mountain (County Antrim)
March -1.2 21 March 1980 Parkmore Forest (County Antrim)
April 0.0 15 April 1966 Black Mountain (County Antrim)
April 0.0 15 April 1966 Divis Mountain (County Antrim)
April 0.0 16 April 1966 Divis Mountain (County Antrim)
May 3.0 14 May 1993 Dungonnell Filters (County Antrim)
May 3.0 1 May 1996 Dungonnell Filters (County Antrim)
June 7.5 11 June 1977 Divis Mountain (County Antrim)
June 7.5 23 June 1978 Divis Mountain (County Antrim)
July 8.8 4 July 1978 Divis Mountain (County Antrim)
August 10.0 29 August 1923 Armagh (County Armagh)
August 10.0 16 August 1970 Lowtown (County Antrim)
August 10.0 22 August 1986 Woodburn North (County Antrim)
August 10.0 30 August 1992 Lough Bradan (County Tyrone)
September 6.8 27 September 1975 Divis Mountain (County Antrim)
October 2.7 28 October 2008 Killylane (County Antrim)
November -2.0 17 November 1915 Armagh (County Armagh)
December -11.3 23 December 2010 Edenfel (County Tyrone)

Northern Ireland: Lowest daily minimum temperature records

Month Temperature (°C) Date Location
January -17.5 1 January 1979 Magherally (County Down)
February -15.6 20 February 1955 Garvagh, Moneydig (County Londonderry)
March -14.8 2 March 2001 Katesbridge (County Down)
April -8.5 10 April 1998 Killylane (County Antrim)
May -6.5 7 May 1982 Moydamlaght (County Londonderry)
June -2.4 4 June 1991 Lough Navar Forest (County Fermanagh)
July -1.1 17 July 1971 Lislap Forest (County Tyrone)
August -1.9 24 August 2014 Katesbridge (County Down)
September -3.7 27 September 2020 Katesbridge (County Down)
October -7.2 18 October 1993 Lough Navar Forest (County Fermanagh)
November -12.2 15 November 1919 Lisburn (County Antrim)
December -18.7 24 December 2010 Castlederg (County Tyrone)

Temperature by district

Record Type

Highest daily maximum temperature records

District Temperature (°C) Date Location
Scotland N 32.5 9 August 2003 Forres, Hillhead (Morayshire)
Scotland E 34.8 19 July 2022 Charterhall (Scottish Borders)
Scotland W 32.8 2 July 1908 Dumfries (Dumfries & Galloway)
Scotland W 32.8 20 July 1901 Dumfries (Dumfries & Galloway)
England E & NE 40.3 19 July 2022 Coningsby (Lincolnshire)
England NW 38.4 19 July 2022 Nantwich (Cheshire)
Wales N 37.1 18 July 2022 Hawarden Airport (Flintshire)
Midlands 40.2 19 July 2022 Pitsford (Northamptonshire)
East Anglia 39.9 19 July 2022 Cambridge Botanic Garden
East Anglia 39.9 19 July 2022 Cambridge, NIAB
England SW 36.0 18 July 2022 Bude (Cornwall)
Wales S 35.8 18 July 2022 Gogerddan (Ceredigion)
England SE & Central S 40.2 19 July 2022 Heathrow (London)
England SE & Central S 40.2 19 July 2022 St James's Park (London)

Lowest daily minimum temperature records

District Temperature (°C) Date Location
Scotland N -27.2 30 December 1995 Altnaharra (Highland)
Scotland E -27.2 11 February 1895 Braemar (Aberdeenshire) (both dates)
Scotland E -27.2 10 January 1982 Braemar (Aberdeenshire) (both dates)
Scotland W -24.8 11 January 1982 Carnwath (South Lanarkshire)
England E & NE -23.3 21 January 1881 Haydon Bridge (Northumberland)
England NW -21.9 16 January 1881 St Michaels-on-Wyre (Lancashire)
Wales N -22.7 13 December 1981 Corwen (Denbighshire)
Midlands -26.1 10 January 1982 Newport (Shropshire)
East Anglia -20.6 25 February 1947 Woburn (Bedfordshire)
England SW -16.7 21 January 1940 Cullompton (Devon)
Wales S -23.3 21 January 1940 Rhayader (Powys)
England SE & Central S -19.5 14 January 1982 Lacock (Wiltshire)

Rainfall

Highest 24-hour rainfall totals for a rainfall day (0900-0900 UTC)

Country Rainfall (mm) Date Location
England 279 18 July 1955 Martinstown (Dorset)
Northern Ireland 159 31 October 1968 Tollymore Forest (County Down)
Scotland 238 17 January 1974 Sloy Main Adit (Argyll & Bute)
Wales 211 11 November 1929 Lluest Wen Reservoir (Mid Glamorgan)

The highest 24-hour total for any 24-hour period is 341.4 mm from 1800 UTC on 4th to 1800 UTC on 5th December 2015 at Honister Pass (Cumbria).

UK rainfall records for consecutive rainfall days (0900-0900 UTC)

Days Rainfall (mm) Date Location
Highest 2-day total 405.0 4 to 5 December 2015 Thirlmere (Cumbria)
Highest 3-day total 456.4 17 to 19 November 2009 Seathwaite (Cumbria)
Highest 4-day total 495.0 16 to 19 November 2009 Seathwaite (Cumbria)
Highest monthly total 1396.4 1 to 31 December 2015 Crib Goch (Snowdon)

UK rainfall records for short durations

Minutes Rainfall (mm) Date Location
Highest 5-minute total 32* 10 August 1893 Preston (Lancashire)
Highest 30-minute total 80 26 June 1953 Eskdalemuir (Dumfriesshire)
Highest 60-minute total 92 12 July 1901 Maidenhead (Berkshire)
Highest 90-minute total 117 8 August 1967 Dunsop Valley (Lancashire)
Highest 120-minute total 193# 19 May 1989 Walshaw Dean Lodge (West Yorkshire)
Highest 120-minute total 155# 11 June 1956 Hewenden Reservoir (West Yorkshire)
Highest 155-minute total 169 14 August 1975 Hampstead (Greater London)
Highest 180-minute total 178 7 October 1960 Horncastle (Lincolnshire)

* Approximate value.

# Reservations about Walshaw value, Hewenden value is next highest accepted value.

Sunshine

Sunshine hours

Country Hours Date Location
England 383.9 July 1911 Eastbourne (Sussex)
Northern Ireland 298.0 June 1940 Mount Stewart (County Down)
Scotland 329.1 May 1975 Tiree (Argyll & Bute)
Wales 354.3 July 1955 Dale Fort (Pembrokeshire)
Highest monthly sunshine records

Gust speed

Highest gust speed records - by country (low-level sites)

Country Speed Date Location
Northern Ireland 108 knots / 124 mph 12 January 1974 Kilkeel (County Down)
England 106 knots / 122 mph 18 February 2022 Needles Old Battery (Isle of Wight)
Scotland 123 knots / 142 mph 13 February 1989 Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire)
Wales 108 knots / 124 mph 28 October 1989 Rhoose (Vale of Glamorgan)

The highest gust speed from a high level site is 150 knots (173 mph) at Cairngorm Summit (1,245 metres AMSL) on 20 March 1986.

Highest gust speed records - by district (low-level sites)

District Speed Date Location
England NW 88 knots / 101 mph 13 January 1984 Sellafield (Cumbria)
England NW 88 knots / 101 mph 16 January 1984 Sellafield (Cumbria)
England NW 88 knots / 101 mph 8 January 2005 St Bees Head (Cumbria)
England E & NE 93 knots / 107 mph 17 December 1979 Lynemouth (Northumberland)
East Anglia 87 knots / 100 mph 16 October 1987 Shoeburyness (Essex)
England SE & Central S 106 knots / 122 mph 18 February 2022 Needles Old Battery (Isle of Wight)
England SW 103 knots / 118 mph 15 December 1979 Gwennap Head (Cornwall)
Midlands 99 knots / 114 mph 13 January 1984 High Bradfield (South Yorkshire)
Scotland E 123 knots / 142 mph 13 February 1989 Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire)
Scotland N 118 knots / 136 mph 7 February 1969 Kirkwall (Orkney)
Scotland W 95 knots / 109 mph 26 December 1998 Salsburgh (Lanarkshire)
Wales N 97 knots / 112 mph 24 December 1997 Aberdaron (Gwynedd)
Wales S 108 knots / 124 mph 28 October 1989 Rhoose (Vale of Glamorgan)

These records are based on digitised data from 1969 and exclude stations above 500 metres AMSL. When compiling this table, an attempt has been made to verify all records by comparing values with neighbouring stations.

Temperature Notes

All daily maximum and minimum temperature records quoted below are based on the period 0900-0900 UTC.

Automatic weather stations also report day-time 0900-2100 UTC and night-time 2100-0900 UTC maximum and minimum temps.

Day-time and night-time values should not be compared directly against daily records, particularly for highest daily minimum and lowest daily maximum. In some unusual weather situations the day-time minimum may be lower than the night-time minimum. Alternatively, the night-time maximum may be higher than the day-time maximum. In either situation this makes a comparison with the daily records invalid.

We do not quote highest/lowest maximum/minimum day-time and night-time records separately. The main reason is that manual climate stations only report daily 0900-0900 UTC maximum and minimum temps. These manual stations form a significant proportion of the overall station network, particularly further in the past. Therefore the compilation of day-time and night-time temperature records would be based on an incomplete station network.

These records are based mainly on digitised data held by the Met Office.

* Highest daily maximum and lowest daily minimum temperature records (including all records pre-1959) appear in Daily Temperature Extremes for Britain, J.D.C. Webb and G.T. Meaden, 2000. Weather 55, 298-315.

Temperature records exclude stations above 500 m AMSL.

The Stevenson Screen was introduced during the 1860s; consequently observations are not quoted for 1865 or earlier.

When compiling these tables, an attempt has been made to verify all records by comparing values with neighbouring stations. A ^ symbol denotes some reservations about the record value quoted.