England and Wales experience driest, sunniest July on record since 1836

July 2026 was the driest month in the modern record for England and Wales, dating back to 1836 when records began. The Met Office reported only 6.5 mm of rain in England (about 10 % of the seasonal average) and 9.3 mm in Wales (about 9 %). In southern England rainfall fell to a historic low of 1.9 mm, roughly 3 % of normal.

The same period was also the sunniest on record, with extreme heat and prolonged dryness. The UK Health Security Agency placed many areas, including London, on an orange heat‑alert that will remain in force until Wednesday, as temperatures are expected to reach 31 °C before falling below 30 °C later in the day. Heatwaves in May and June have been linked to an estimated 2,877 excess deaths in England.

Met Office scientific lead Emma Docherty said the combination of record‑low rainfall, high temperatures and unprecedented sunshine makes the month one of the most notable in the agency’s historical data.