1976 British Isles heatwave

Common card · No. 415249

A period of unusually hot summer weather occurred in the British Isles during the summer of 1976. At the same time, there was a severe drought on the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. It was one of the driest, sunniest and warmest summers (June/July/August) in the 20th century, although the summer of 1995 is now regarded as the driest. Only a few places registered more than half their average summer rainfall. The health effects of the heat contributed to mortality displacement during the year. Wildlife and vegetation effects were also observed. The British government implemented water rationing to mitigate the impact of the drought. Crops were badly hit, with £500 million worth of crops failing and food prices subsequently increased by 12%. In the Central England temperature record, it was the warmest summer in the series only equalled by 2025. It was the warmest summer in the Aberdeen area since at least 1864, and the driest summer since 1868 in Glasgow. It remains a reference point...

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