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Heat Records Shattered
Spring 2025: UK’s Warmest and Sunniest
• Spring 2025 (March–May) saw a mean temperature of 9.5 °C, 1.44 °C above the 1991–2020 average—the warmest spring since records began in 1884.
• Sunshine hours totalled 653.3 hrs, 43% above average, marking the sunniest spring on record across the UK, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales; England recorded its second sunniest spring.
• Rainfall totaled 128.2 mm, only 56% of average—making it the driest spring in over a century and the sixth driest since 1836.
June 2025: Another Historic Month
• The UK recorded its second‑warmest June on record (mean 15.2 °C), while England had its warmest June ever (mean 16.9 °C) .
• Both daytime and nighttime temperatures reached new highs: highest June minimums ever recorded in the UK, England and Wales; Northern Ireland saw its second highest, Scotland its fourth .
• Heatwaves struck twice in June, peaking with 35.8 °C at Faversham on 1 July, making it by early July the hottest day of 2025 so far .
Scotland’s Extreme Heat
• On 12 July, Aviemore reached 32.2 °C, breaking local records and constituting the hottest day in Scotland this year.
• Cardiff reached 33.1 °C, topping records for Wales and Northern Ireland earlier in July.
Rainfall Extremes & Drought
• While spring remained exceptionally dry, June overall saw slightly above‑average rainfall in the UK (103%), though with strong regional variation: England was drier (80%), while Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland saw over 20% above average rainfall.
• Orkney recorded its wettest June ever, and Cumbria its fourth wettest, with Honister Pass in the Lake District collecting 499.4 mm for the month.
• Despite June rains, spring’s prolonged dryness led to drought declaration in northwest England, low reservoir and river levels, and severe strain on water resources by early July.
Long‑Term Trends & Drivers
• The State of UK Climate report describes a clear trend: temperature extremes (e.g., days 5–10 °C above normal) have doubled to quadrupled from 1961–1990 to 2015–2024, while severe wet months (rainfall ≥2× monthly average) have increased by over 50%.
• The UK has warmed at about 0.25 °C per decade since the 1980s, with the 2015–2024 period about 1.24 °C warmer than 1961–1990, and the last three years among the UK’s five warmest on record .
• Scientists emphasize that human-driven greenhouse gas emissions are the primary cause, and what was once extreme is becoming everyday weather .
Impacts & Risks
• The June 2025 heatwave was linked to at least 600 heat-related deaths in the UK, including several tragic water-related incidents and numerous wildfires .
• The first half of 2025 saw 649 wildfires, more than double the previous record year (2022), burning over 175 square miles .
• Drought conditions affected much of England by July: reservoirs at record lows, river flows comparable to the 1976 drought, and increased risk of hosepipe bans and agricultural strain .
• Climate projections suggest that by 2050 today’s heat waves may represent the new average, with failure to adapt likely to escalate health and infrastructure crises .
What It Means & What’s Next
• These recent records reflect growing climate instability: warmer, drier springs transitioning into intense summer heat, punctuated by extreme rainfall or drought aftermaths.
• Experts call for urgent adaptation steps: heat-resilient building design, urban planning to reduce overheating, expanded air cooling systems, improved flood and wildfire resilience, and stronger water management strategies .
• Policy calls for action are intensifying, with criticism of current strategies by environmental groups and climate scientists. Many argue the UK must accelerate net zero efforts and climate preparedness planning .
In Summary
UK climate records are being broken with alarming frequency in 2025:
• Warmest and sunniest spring ever, second-warmest June, and record-breaking heat in multiple regions, especially Scotland.
• Coupled with record-low spring rainfall and notable regional downpours, the country is feeling both drought stress and localized flood risk.
• These conditions reflect broader trends driven by human-induced climate change, posing escalating risks to health, ecosystems, water supplies, and infrastructure.
Attached is a news article regarding the heat and rain records being broken
https://news.sky.com/story/extreme-weather-becoming-the-norm-in-the-uk-met-office-warns-13396206
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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