Heatwave After Heatwave: Why 2026 Is Set To Be The Hottest Summer On Record

Following the hottest spring on record, this year’s summer temperatures have soared into the

high 30s. Whilst the lasting damage of the summer sun is far from over, what exactly has caused this current climate crisis?

According to the UK Parliament’s House of Commons, a ‘heatwave’ is classified as temperatures above 25C across the majority of the UK, yet 28C in central and south-east England. 

With heatwaves becoming more common, this can increasingly ‘disrupt infrastructure and ecosystems and harm people’s health’ states the UK Parliament’s website.

2026 has proven to be a summer to remember, with the heatwaves starting in May and

reaching the highest temperature of 38C in Lingwood, Norfolk on the 26th of June, as recorded by the Met Office. The BBC have additionally predicted this to be the hottest summer on record, especially considering it was the driest July in both Wales and England since records began in 1836. 

However, 2026 reaching temperatures of 35C or above in three separate calendar months isn’t something to celebrate.

High-pressure systems naturally occur in the summer months, heating up the earth as air from

higher up in the atmosphere sinks to the surface. However, climate change has played a significant role in the unnatural temperatures the UK has faced this year. Fossil fuels being burnt, greenhouse gases being released through manufacturing processes, transportation emissions; these are all factors trapping heat in the atmosphere and encouraging climate change. 

Reliance on Artificial Intelligence is also a contributing factor. Data centres globally consumed around 560 billion litres of water in 2025 to fuel AI searches.

The national alert distributed by the UK Government on the 14th of August puts the lasting

impact of the summer heatwaves into perspective. Health risks that stem from consistent heatwaves are breathing issues due to unnatural temperatures, heat-related illnesses, and in extreme cases even deaths. 

Ecosystems are significantly shifted with heat altering the growing seasons of plants, increasing loss of harvests and impacting food supply chains, especially as wildfires continue to destroy land and homes across the UK.

Using energy-efficient appliances, conserving emissions through public transport and choosing products made from sustainable materials are ways of reducing the likelihood of more damaging heatwaves, suggests Greenpeace, a Global Campaign Network for sustainability and change.

Especially in Wales, not engaging in activities that could encourage wildfires, such as barbecues or fireworks, is advisory.

Human activity is a primary contributor to increasing climate change and heatwaves. With theupcoming Autumn promising cooler, wetter weather, the yearly impact of summer sun will continue to impact the land if serious action isn’t taken.