UK record for number of days above 30C broken, as new heatwave approaches

The UK has broken a 30-year record for the number of days in a year with temperatures of 30C or above recorded.

Temperatures have exceeded 30C in south-east England as the UK prepares for a fifth heatwave in the coming week, while north-west Scotland has experienced half a month's rainfall in just two days.

Frittenden in Kent recorded 30.6C on Sunday, with more places expected to reach highs of up to 32C later in the day.

That brings the total number of 30C days in 2026 to 35; breaking the previous record of 34 days, set in 1995.

Meteorologist Tom Morgan said: "We've seen Frittenden in Kent reach 30.6C.

"We still expect temperatures to peak maybe 32C or just above this afternoon."

Forecasters said Monday will be slightly cooler, but there will likely be heatwave conditions next week, with a high of 36C forecast in parts of East Anglia and the South East by Thursday.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.

The alerts are in place until 9pm on Tuesday, but may well be extended as the hot weather continues.

On Sunday, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident while 14 crews tackled two separate fires near Mansfield.

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While parts of England and Wales struggle under drought conditions, more than half a month's rainfall fell in north-west Scotland in the last 48 hours, the Met Office said.

"They've seen over 100mm of rain on Friday and Saturday, so the rain isn't far away and there is a little bit of rain in northern England and Northern Ireland today too," Mr Morgan said.

This summer's extreme weather has included two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June that led to more than 2,800 excess deaths.

The highest temperature of the year was 38C, recorded at Lingwood in Norfolk on 28 June.

Two more heatwaves last month, the driest July in England and Wales since records began, have fuelled drought and wildfires.

Nineteen counties across England recorded 1mm or less rainfall across the month, with half of England and all of Wales plunged into drought.

In recent weeks, large blazes broke out at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, Llanwonno in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.

(c) Sky News 2026: UK record for number of days above 30C broken, as new heatwave approaches