The Met Office weather station for the Basildon area recorded a peak temperature of 18.2°C on Wednesday 25 February 2026. This unseasonably warm afternoon in Basildon, Essex, was significantly higher than the typical February high, which usually stays between 8°C and 11°C.
The peak temperature occurred at 15:00 GMT following a steady climb from 8.9°C at 08:00 that morning. Weather records show that south-south-westerly winds moving at speeds of up to 11 mph helped bring the mild air into the region.
While the milder conditions allowed some households to use less heating, the warmth can also cause early hay fever symptoms for some residents. Ecologists have also warned that unseasonable temperatures can have a negative effect on hibernating animals like hedgehogs, bats, and dormice by causing them to wake up too early in the year.
According to climate data from Holiday Weather and Weather and Climate, the 18.2°C reading was roughly 7 to 10 degrees above the seasonal norm. The warm spell gave local gardeners a rare chance to work outdoors during what is usually one of the coldest months of the year.
