2026 vs 1976 — a hot, dry, sunny summer?

Compares this year against the iconic summer of 1976 on three fronts — 30°C+ days, rain-free days, and hours of bright sunshine — with each ranked against every other year and set against the long-term decade trend.

How does 2026 compare to the hottest summers on record?

A cricket-worm style running average of daily mean temperature from 1 June, tracking 2026 day by day against the five hottest summers on record (2025, 2018, 2022, 2006, 1947) plus 1976, added for its significance.

A century of heatwaves at Reading

A calendar of every heatwave day since records began — Met Office definition (28°C+ for three or more days) — with each day coloured by its peak temperature, laying the whole record out year by year so the rising frequency and intensity is plain to see.

The driest summers on record — how does 2026 compare?

Cumulative summer rainfall from 1 June, tracking 2026 day by day against the five driest Jun–Aug summers on record by total rainfall, plus 1976, added for its significance.