The summer of 1976 was the hottest summer in the UK since records began. As well as the heat, Britain was in the middle of a severe drought, exacerbated by the hot, dry conditions. For other senses of this word, see Summer (disambiguation). ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... A drought is a period of time when there is not enough water to support agricultural, urban or environmental water needs. ...

The temperature reached 80°F (26.7°C) every day between 22 June and 16 July. The truly remarkable heat wave was in late June and early July. For 15 consecutive days from 23 June to 7 July inclusive, temperatures reached 90°F (32.2°C) somewhere in England on each of these 15 days. Furthermore, five days saw temperatures exceed 95°F (35°C). On 28 June, temperatures reached 35.6°C in Southampton, the highest June temperature recorded in the UK. The hottest day of all was 3 July, with temperatures reaching 35.9°C in Cheltenham, one of the hottest July days on record in the UK. June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... Southampton is a city and major port situated on the south coast of England. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... Cheltenham (or Cheltenham Spa) is a spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, England, near Gloucester and Cirencester. ...

The great drought was due to a very long dry period. The summer and autumn of 1975 were very dry, and the winter of 1975-76 was exceptionally dry, as was the spring of 1976, indeed some months during this period had no rain at all in some areas. For other senses of this word, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Fall redirects here. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... For other senses of this word, see winter (disambiguation). ... Spring is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

The drought was at its most severe in August 1976. Parts of the south-west went 45 days without any rain in July and August. As the hot, dry weather continued, devastating heath and forest fires broke out in parts of Southern England, one fire destroyed 50,000 trees in a forest. Crops were badly hit, with £500 million worth of crops failing. A drought is a period of time when there is not enough water to support agricultural, urban or environmental water needs. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Southern England is a vague term referring to the south of England. ...

Another problem was a shortage of water. Reservoirs were at an extremely low level, as were some rivers, and standpipes were in the streets in some places. A Minister for Drought was even appointed. A freestanding fire standpipe at Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA A standpipe is a type of rigid water piping which is put in multi-storey buildings or placed in the street to be used in the event of a fire. ...

In the last week of August, severe thunderstorms brought rain to some places for the first time in weeks. September and October 1976 were both very wet months, and the great drought of 1976 had finally ended. A rolling thundercloud over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

External links

• BBC News look back at the drought
• BBC Weather article