The summer of 1976: Britain’s most extraordinary heatwave explained

ORIGIN: https://www.yourweather.co.uk/news/

The summer of 1976 was one of the most intriguing meteorological phenomena for the UK, often described as “sunny”, “clear”, “halcyon”, and “hot”. But, the set of heat-induced events did make this summer unusual, resembling to a cheap budget horror movie scenario. Meteorologist Nedim Sladić rewinds the clock a half of the century and sheds the light on the event that tested Great Britain to its limits.

Birmingham Lido packed with visitors during Summer 1976 relentless heatwave

On 22nd June 1976, the high pressure system built near the British Isles. It was the start what was then the hottest summer in the United Kingdom began — before it was surpassed in 2018, then 2022, and finally 2025.

That summer brought a sequence of parallel, alternating, and at times unexpected circumstances.

The start of a hot, long summer

The first of six was what remains, even today, the longest heatwave in the country’s history. It lasted 15 days, from 23 June to 07 July, with air temperatures above 32 °C and a peak maximum of 35.9 °C.

After the heatwave