Below are the current UK extreme maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall, wind speed and sunshine hours held by the Met Office.

The Stevenson screen was designed in 1864 and was first adopted by the British Meteorological Office in 1884 following modifications by the Royal Meteorological Society. Therefore no temperature observations are included before this year.

All records are based on digitised data held by the Met Office and listed here with permission. This page was last modified on February 16th, 2023.

Highest daily maximum temperature records

  • England: 40.3°C (104.5°F) at Coningsby on July 19th, 2022
  • Wales: 37.1°C (98.7°F) at Hawarden on July 18th, 2022
  • Scotland: 34.8°C (94.6°F) at Charterhall on July 19th, 2022
  • Northern Ireland: 31.3°C (88.3°F) at Castlederg on July 21st, 2021

Weather and climate stations across the UK report 09:00-21:00 GMT for maximum temperatures. These records exclude stations above 500m in altitude.

Weather and climate stations across the UK report 09:00-21:00 GMT for maximum temperatures. These records exclude stations above 500m in altitude.

Highest daily minimum temperature records

  • England: 26.8°C (80.2°F) at Shirburn Model Farm on July 19th, 2022
  • Wales: 24.5°C (76.1°F) at Aberporth on July 19th, 2022
  • Scotland: 21.3°C (70.3°F) at Nunraw Abbey on July 19th, 2022
  • Northern Ireland: 20.6°C (69.0°F) at Armagh on July 31st, 1868

Weather and climate stations across the UK report 2100-0900 GMT for minimum temperatures. These records exclude stations above 500m in altitude.

Lowest daily maximum temperature records

  • England: -11.3°C (11.6°F) at Newport on January 11th, 1982
  • Wales: -8.0°C (17.6°F) at Trecastle on January 12th, 1987
  • Scotland: -15.9°C (3.5°F) at Fyvie Castle on December 29th, 1995
  • Northern Ireland: -11.3°C (11.6°F) at Edenfel on December 23rd, 2010

Weather and climate stations across the UK report 09:00-21:00 GMT for maximum temperatures. These records exclude stations above 500m in altitude.

Lowest daily minimum temperature records

  • England: -26.1°C (-14.9°F) at Newport on January 10th, 1982
  • Wales: -23.3°C (-9.9°F) at Rhayader on January 21st, 1940
  • Scotland: -27.2°C (-16.9°F) at Altnaharra on December 30th, 1995
  • Northern Ireland: -18.7°C (-1.6°F) at Castlederg on December 24th, 2010

Weather and climate stations across the UK report 2100-0900 GMT for minimum temperatures. These records exclude stations above 500m in altitude.

Highest 24-hour rainfall totals

  • England: 279mm (10.9in) at Martinstown on July 18th, 1955
  • Wales: 211mm (8.3in) at Lluest Wen Reservoir on November 11th, 1929
  • Scotland: 238mm (9.3in) at Sloy Main Adit on January 17th, 1974
  • Northern Ireland: 159mm (6.2in) at Tollymore Forest on October 31st, 1968

The totals above are based on a meteorological day (09:00-09:00 GMT). The highest 24-hour total is 341.4 mm from 18:00 GMT on 4th to 18:00 GMT on 5th December 2015 at Honister Pass.

Highest wind speed (gust) records

  • England: 122mph at Needles Old Battery on February 18th, 2022
  • Wales: 124mph at Rhoose on October 28th, 1989
  • Scotland: 142mph at Fraserburgh on February 13th, 1989
  • Northern Ireland: 124mph at Kilkeel on January 12th, 1974

The wind speeds above are for low-level sites. The highest-ever wind gust recorded in the UK was 173mph at Cairngorm Summit on March 20th, 1986.

Sunshine hours

  • England: 383.9 hours at Eastbourne during July 1911
  • Wales: 354.3 hours at Dale Fort during July 1955
  • Scotland: 329.1 hours at Tiree during May 1975
  • Northern Ireland: 298.0 hours at Mount Stewart during June 1940