Hottest day on record in Cambridge‑niab

Summary of the 1959–2026 period

The cambridge‑niab station (Met Office identifier 00455) holds a complete daily maximum temperature series stretching from 01‑01‑1959 to 30‑06‑2026. Across that full record, the all‑time highest daily maximum is 39.9°C, reached on 19‑07‑2022. That reading exceeds the previous daily highs by a clear margin: the second hottest day in the series reached 38.1°C on 25‑07‑2019, and the third reached 37.5°C on 18‑07‑2022.

Looking at the warmest month of the year, July stands out with a long‑term average daily maximum of 22.4°C and an extreme historical maximum of 39.9°C. August is almost as warm on average, with a mean daily maximum of 22.3°C and a record of 36.1°C. June averages 20.2°C and carries a record of 33.5°C. The coolest month is January, averaging just 7.0°C for daily maxima and holding a monthly record of only 15.4°C.

Annual maxima show a clear upward drift over the six decades. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, no year surpassed 33.5°C (reached in 1976). By the 1990s, 35.6°C was logged in 1990, and the 2000s brought 36.1°C in 2003 and 35.8°C in 2006. The 2020s opened with the 39.9°C peak of 2022, and even 2024 reached 34.8°C. Meanwhile, the average annual maximum (mean of all daily maxima in a year) climbed from 12.4–15.3°C in the early 1960s to 16.6°C in 2022 and 16.4°C in 2025.

Monthly maximum temperatures

July and August concentrate the most extreme heat: the monthly record in July is 39.9°C, while August has reached 36.1°C. Among the remaining months, June holds a record of 33.5°C and September 32.8°C. At the cold end, January has never exceeded 15.4°C and December's record is just 16.1°C.

The 5 hottest days on record

The five highest daily maxima at cambridge‑niab are packed into two heatwaves: July 2022 (three days) and the summer of 2019, 2003, and 2006. The leading day, 19‑07‑2022, not only set the absolute record but also produced a daily mean of 29.2°C. The next two hottest days, 38.1°C and 37.5°C, both occurred within the same July 2022 or 2019 heat episode, separated by only a year.

Annual maximum temperatures (1959–2025)

The chart shows the complete annual series. The table lists the most notable years; the full series comes from Met Office.

The annual table shows a distinct upward shift: from 1959 to 1979, only four years exceeded 32.0°C; from 1989 onward, ten years surpassed 34.0°C. The single highest annual maximum remains 39.9°C in 2022, while the coldest annual low in the series was -16.0°C in 1982. The warmest year on average (mean of all daily maxima) was 2022 with 16.6°C, followed by 2025 with 16.4°C.

Frequently asked questions

When was the hottest day ever recorded in Cambridge‑niab?

The absolute record high is 39.9°C, logged on 19 July 2022. On that day the minimum was 18.5°C and the daily mean reached 29.2°C. This is the highest daily maximum in the whole 1959–2026 series.

Which month has the highest average maximum?

July leads with a mean daily maximum of 22.4°C and a record high of 39.9°C. August is a close second at 22.3°C, with a record of 36.1°C. June averages 20.2°C.

What was the warmest summer in the series?

Based on annual maxima, the summer of 2022 produced the highest yearly peak (39.9°C) and also the highest mean annual maximum of the record, 16.6°C. The second‑warmest year by mean was 2025 with 16.4°C.

Where exactly are the measurements taken?

The official Met Office station is coded cambridge‑niab (identifier 00455). It operates within the UK's national network, and its daily readings are archived in the MIDAS database, curated by the Met Office and held at CEDA (Centre for Environmental Data Analysis) under the Open Government Licence.

How many years exceed 35°C in the record?

Looking at the annual maxima column, six years reach or surpass 35.0°C: 1990 (35.6), 2003 (36.1), 2006 (35.8), 2019 (38.1), 2020 (35.0), 2022 (39.9). All other years stay below 35.0°C, with 2024 at 34.8°C as the closest below.

What is the coldest minimum ever recorded?

The lowest minimum temperature in the annual table is -16.0°C, set in 1982. The next coldest minima are -15.6°C in 1963 and -15.3°C in 2012.