LONDON: A dry month at Kew Gardens appears to have set a 155-year record after its weather station registered no measurable rainfall throughout July 2026.
Semafor reported the reading on August 3 at 10:22 am EDT. Weather observations at the Royal Botanic Gardens site date to 1871.
However, Kew and the Met Office had not formally confirmed the station-specific record by August 4. IFLScience traced the finding to an independent analysis of near-real-time Met Office observatory data.
The station’s previous driest Julys reportedly brought 2.5 millimetres of rain in 1999 and 3.7 millimetres in 1921. Official Met Office figures confirmed the extent of the drought.
Greater London was among 19 English counties that received no more than one millimetre of rain during July. England recorded 6.5 millimetres, or 10% of its monthly average.
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Southern England received 1.9 millimetres, making July its driest calendar month in a regional series dating to 1836.
England and Wales also registered their driest Julys on record, according to the Met Office. Forecasters expected more unsettled weather in northern Britain during the week. However, southeastern England was likely to receive little rain beyond isolated showers.
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