The Met Office has described the summer of 2022 as England's joint hottest summer on record, with widespread disruption reported as travel, infrastructure and healthcare were affected by the heat1. The assessment appears in the forecaster's WeatherReady guidance for summer weather, published on 11 May 2023, which looks back at the previous summer as a reminder of the risks of extreme heat1.
"Widespread disruption was reported in what was England's joint hottest summer on record, with travel, infrastructure and healthcare impacted by the heat."
The Met Office does not give casualty figures, temperature records by region or a breakdown of the disruption in the guidance1. It describes the heat only as a "stark reminder of the risks of extreme heat"1. No further detail on the scale of the impacts has been reported in the pages reviewed.
The guidance sets out the summer hazards it covers, alongside heat:
| Hazard | What the Met Office says |
|---|---|
| Heat | Practical steps to stay cool; advice is "especially important for those who are more vulnerable to heat, such as babies, young children and older people"1 |
| Heavy rain | "Heavy rain can be a factor in summer and it can have a more pronounced impact when it falls on dry land"1 |
| Thunder and lightning | "Warm summer weather often carries with it the risk of thunder and lightning, which presents an additional hazard"1 |
The Met Office says leading health organisations across the UK contributed to its advice page on hot weather and its impacts, and that its WeatherReady pages include step-by-step instructions on protecting a property from flooding and on recovering after a flood1. It also points to advice on UV and sunburn, hay fever and the pollen season1.
Why it matters for households
The Met Office's account shows that the effects of a record hot summer reached beyond discomfort: travel, infrastructure and healthcare were all affected1. Its guidance identifies babies, young children and older people as more vulnerable to heat, and says practical steps to stay cool can be especially important for them1. The same guidance notes that heavy rain in summer can have a more pronounced impact when it falls on dry land, and that warm weather carries the risk of thunder and lightning as an additional hazard1. The Met Office directs households to its WeatherReady advice on hot weather, flooding and thunder and lightning1. The background to the 2022 event is set out in the guide to past UK droughts and heatwaves, and the wider trend in why UK summers are getting hotter and drier is covered separately; both sit within the heatwaves and drought section.
What happens next
No dated next steps are given in the Met Office guidance beyond the publication of its summer WeatherReady advice on 11 May 20231.
Sources (1)
- Everything you need to know ahead of summer weather - Met Office, metoffice.gov.uk
Past UK Droughts and Heatwaves
Why UK Summers Are Hotter
