Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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50 years on from that long, hot, dry summer... and things are so much worse.

This is a deep-dive into the heatwave of 1976, and why climate heating has made that kind of event more likely and more severe.

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## Contents

00:00 - Intro
01:31 - Debunking some myths
04:17 - Support the channel
04:50 - The heatwave of 1976
08:15 - Heatwaves of 2026
09:11 - 1976 vs today
14:56 - Heatwaves in 2056
19:08 - Compounding risks
19:46 - Action
21:22 - Community

#ClimateChange #heatwave #forecast #1976

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Thank you SO MUCH to all my fabulous patrons, I really appreciate your support. Special thanks to my Patreon Saints: Steven Cowling, Eliot Bryant, Baerbel Winkler, Patrick Hillberg, Michael Unterweger, James Harley Gorrell, Gary Stark, Charles Vane, Sarah Den & Mark Brandon ♥️

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References and resources

My Guardian article: theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/19/britain-heatwave-1976-crisis-summer-heat

Ed Hawkins' work (with Hayley Fowler): climatelabbook.substack.com/p/recreating-the-legendary-heatwave

and: climatelabbook.substack.com/p/the-summer-of-1976

theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/23/heatwave-1976-extreme-heat-climate-crisis-new-normal

bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cg5pjlyjrq8o

acss.org.uk/fun-in-the-sun-heatwave-images-in-the-media-questioning-the-visual-wallpaper-of-our-everyday-lives

metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/uk-could-see-45c-by-2056-scientists-reflect-on-1976-heatwave-anniversary

theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/24/weatherwatch-the-relentless-summer-of-1976