Today, the Met Office confirmed that this summer was the warmest on record for the UK. The news was expected, given that it had already announced last week that it was 'almost certain' this would be the case.
This summer has been characterised by four heatwaves of varying extent. The greatest number have been across the south and east of the UK, with fewer in the north and west.
However, the heatwaves are only part of the story. Outside of the heatwaves, above average temperatures have persisted throughout summer nationwide.
The mean temperature this summer was 16.10C, which beats the previous record of 15.76C - set in 2018. This year's record means that the UK's top five warmest summers have all occurred since 2000, relegating the infamous long, hot and sunny summer of 1976 to sixth place.
There are four main reasons why this summer has been so warm. I'll start with the more obvious ones first.
High pressure has been close to or over the UK for most of summer. This has led to lots of dry and sunny weather, allowing warmth to build and persist.
Climate change has also played a part, making the temperatures higher than they would have been in its absence, as well as increasing the chance of record-breaking seasonal warmth.
We've also had a marine heatwave around the UK this summer, with sea temperatures above average. During summer, the sea has a moderating cooling effect on the land. But with the sea being warmer than average, this effect has been lessened.
The final reason is dry ground, caused by the lack of rainfall the UK has experienced so far this year - especially across southern and eastern areas. Dry ground heats up more readily than damp ground, allowing higher temperatures to be achieved more easily.
This summer has been a sunny one for most, with sunshine 10% above average for the UK.
UK rainfall has been 16% below average. However, when drilling down into the detail, the picture is more variable.
Scotland and Northern Ireland had 99% and 93% respectively of their average summer rainfall. England and Wales were drier, with only 69% and 79% of their average respective rainfall.
The first 10 days of September are set to pick up where August left off, with an unsettled theme to our weather. A south-shifted jet stream will push areas of low pressure across the UK from the Atlantic Ocean, bringing showers or longer spells of rain and brisk winds.
Looking beyond this is tricky, because we are approaching the statistical peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. If any hurricanes form, they will have the potential to influence our weather indirectly and introduce a lot of uncertainty into the forecast.
Nevertheless, with a lack of rainfall so far this year and the ongoing pressure on water resources, the rain, if not welcomed by all, will be much needed.