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.
Read More
