1976 British Isles heatwave
Videos
A period of unusually hot summer weather occurred in the British Isles during the summer of 1976. At the same time, there was a severe drought on the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. It was one o
Lyme Regis Beach, Dorset, August 1976
Burrator Reservoir in Devon, July 1976. Many reservoirs, like this one, were at a very low level.
During 2026, parts of the United Kingdom were severely affected by a series of record-breaking heatwaves, forming the western extent of a broader sequence of extreme heat events across Western and Cen
1976 British Isles heatwave
…2014 and 2022. The summer became embedded in the national psyche, with subsequent heatwaves in later years, such as 1995, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2022, and 2026 all using 1976 as a benchmark. The 1976 heatwave was a rarity within its decade. Heatwaves in the UK and worldwide have since become more frequent and…
Bottled water for commuters at Leeds City railway station.
Leaves from trees cover the ground in Russell Square, London, August 2026
On 14 August an alert was sent to phones in England and Wales about the risk of wildfires.