UK on track for one of hottest summers on record, says Met Office

Independent

4 hours ago

The UK is on track for one of its hottest summers on record, the Met Office said.
The summer has been marked by persistent warm temperatures even outside the four heatwaves which have hit the country, with June and July both seeing well above-average conditions.
With two weeks to go until the end of the meteorological summer, conditions could still shift, but the season's overall warmth and consistently above-average temperatures mean it could rank among the UK's warmest in records dating back to 1884.
Provisional figures from the Met Office show that the UK's average temperature from June 1 to August 17 stands at 16.2C, some 1.6C above the average temperature.
Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle said: 'It's looking like this summer is on track to be one of the warmest, if not 'the' warmest, since the series began in 1884.
'What's striking is the consistency of the warmth. June and July were both well above average and even outside of heatwaves, temperatures have remained on the warmer side.
'This persistent warmth is driven by a combination of factors including dry ground from spring, high-pressure systems, and unusually warm seas around the UK.
'These conditions have created an environment where heat builds quickly and lingers.'
She said: 'While we haven't seen record-breaking highs – 35.8C is the peak so far this year – the overall trend in consistently above-average temperatures is what matters.'
The Met Office said climate change is also playing a role in pushing up summer temperatures, with the UK warming by around 0.25C per decade.
The UK's warmest summer on record is 2018, followed by 2006, 2003, 2022 and 1976.
The Met Office said both June and July delivered consistently above-average temperatures, with England experiencing its hottest June on record.
There have been four heatwaves so far this summer, and the Met Office said while that was unusual, each has been short-lived and interspersed with near average conditions and the hottest day of the year, at 35.8C in Faversham, Kent, is well below the all-time high for the UK of 40.3C in 2022.
Rainfall is tracking below average, with 72% of the whole summer's long term average recorded so far, when 85% would be expected at this point in the season – but it is variable, with northern Scotland already receiving 98% of its summer rainfall and the Midlands just 58%.
The below-average rainfall in summer comes after England's driest spring in more than 100 years and the driest January to July since 1929, the Met Office said.
It has also been a sunnier than average summer so far, although the meteorological experts said it was too early to suggest where 2025 might end up in terms of sunshine records.