The Met Office has officially declared 2025 the United Kingdom's warmest and sunniest year since records began, marking a stark new milestone in the nation's climatic history.
A New Record for UK Temperatures
With a mean temperature of 10.09°C, 2025 has surpassed the previous record set in 2022. This is only the second occasion since the 19th century that the UK's average annual temperature has exceeded 10°C. The data, which dates back to 1884, shows that the three hottest years on record have all occurred in this current decade, with 2022 and 2023 now occupying the second and third spots.
Dr Mark McCarthy, the Met Office's head of climate attribution, stated that this new peak is consistent with the anticipated effects of human-driven climate change. "We’re increasingly seeing UK temperatures break new ground in our changing climate," he said, noting that this record comes just three years after the last one was set.
Persistent Warmth and Unprecedented Sunshine
The warmth was not confined to a single season. According to Met Office scientist Dr Emily Carlisle, every month except January and September was warmer than average. From March to August, each month was at least 1°C above the 1991-2020 average, resulting in the warmest spring and summer in the historical series.
Meteorologists attributed the sustained high temperatures to persistent high-pressure systems, which brought prolonged dry and sunny conditions, coupled with above-average sea temperatures around the British Isles.
In parallel, 2025 also set a new benchmark for sunshine. The UK recorded 1,648.5 hours of sunshine, beating the previous record from 2003 by 61.4 hours. This abundance of sunlight had a direct positive effect on solar energy generation, with solar farms meeting more than 6% of Britain's annual energy needs—a increase of over 50% compared to recent years.
Implications and the Broader Climate Picture
The record-breaking year was characterised by below-average rainfall, with some areas experiencing their lowest levels on record. While the highest single-day temperature record remains the 40°C+ reading from 19 July 2022, the consistent heat throughout 2025 is seen as particularly significant.
Dr McCarthy emphasised that while not every year will be a record-breaker, the trend is unmistakable. "It is clear from our weather observations and climate models that human-induced global warming is impacting the UK’s climate," he concluded. This latest data provides further compelling evidence of the rapid environmental changes underway.
