UK weather: Has the British summer changed beyond recognition?

While there is no doubt our summers have changed, you may well argue that they have not yet shifted beyond recognition.

However, changes look set to accelerate in the coming decades.

According to the Met Office, external, the hottest summer days in 2070 will be 4-7C (7-13F) warmer than they were in 1990.

In the south of the UK, having two days in a row when temperatures get above 30C (86F) will be 16 times more likely.

By the start of the next century in 2100, highs of 40C (104F) – only recorded once before, in 2022 – could be commonplace, happening every three or four years.

At the same time, more intense summer downpours will lead to the risk of flash flooding.

The challenge for government, local authorities, health services, and all of us, will be in adapting to the many changes that lie ahead as the world continues to warm.