The United Kingdom experienced its warmest day in early April in eight decades, with temperatures reaching unusually high levels across several major cities. On April 8, 2026, the Met Office recorded a peak temperature of 26.6 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens in southwest London, marking the highest recorded temperature for the first half of April since 1946.

London saw temperatures hit 26C, while Cardiff and Manchester reported highs of 21C and 19C, respectively. The warmth attracted office workers outdoors to parks and rooftop spaces, as the day also stood as the hottest so far this year. Despite the record for early April warmth, these temperatures remained below the absolute April daily maximum recorded in London, which was 29.4C at Camden Square in 1949. A similar peak of above 29C was also noted on April 19, 2018.

This surge exceeded recent April highs, including the 24.8C logged on Anglesey the previous Tuesday, which had itself set a new record for the hottest April 7. Notably, the day’s temperatures surpassed those typically recorded in well-known spring holiday destinations such as Ibiza, Rome, and Marrakech.

The Met Office attributed the unseasonably warm conditions to a high-pressure system drawing warm air up from the south, particularly impacting central, southern, and eastern England. This resulted in temperatures significantly surpassing the early April average range of 12 to 15 degrees Celsius.

The warmer weather was expected to continue through April 9, with forecasts predicting a high of around 20C. However, a marked drop back to more typical spring temperatures near 12 degrees Celsius was anticipated by April 10 and 11, signaling a return to seasonal norms.