Manchester folk are hard

Is that the worst you've got?

￯ﾸﾏ Manchester is currently experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to around 30°C—well above the seasonal norm. The Met Office has issued alerts urging residents to stay safe, especially those attending large outdoor events like the Oasis concerts at Heaton Park.

But Manchester’s weather resilience is legendary. A recent survey found that Mancunians are among the UK’s toughest when it comes to braving the elements. Only 47% would cancel a picnic due to rain, compared to 61% nationally, and nearly a third have worn flip-flops in the rain or fashioned ponchos out of bin bags. That’s some serious northern grit.

If you’re out and about this weekend, pack your sunscreen, stay hydrated, and maybe keep a bin bag handy—just in case Manchester decides to switch from sun to sleet in five minutes flat. Want to dive into how climate change might be influencing these extremes? Or curious about Manchester’s wildest weather records? I’ve got you covered.

Mancunians are built different. That survey showing nearly a third of locals rocking flip-flops in the rain or bin-bag ponchos? Iconic. Manchester’s reputation for weather resilience is well-earned, even if it’s not technically the UK’s wettest city—Cardiff recently stole that title.