Met Office Says 2025 Was UK's Warmest Year as London 30C+ Days Quadruple
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15
Met Office Says 2025 Was UK's Warmest Year as London 30C+ Days Quadruple
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 15
Summary
2025 was the UK's warmest year since records began in 1884, the Met Office said, calling weather once deemed extreme the country's "new normal."
4.5C has been added to the typical hottest day in southern England versus 1961-1990, while the 2016-2025 decade ran 1.33C warmer, pushing heat patterns north and uphill.
More than quadrupled 30C-plus days and 18C-plus nights in Greater London during 2016-2025 show how small average warming is translating into sharper heat extremes.
2,700 heat-related deaths may have occurred in England and Wales during the hot May-June spell, as homes, hospitals, schools and transport networks struggled through back-to-back heatwaves.
Less than half the normal spring rainfall left England with its driest spring in over 100 years in 2025, underscoring projections of hotter, drier summers, deeper droughts and higher wildfire risk.
The UK's 20th-century climate is officially 'gone.' Who will pay the price for adapting to the new normal?
With 90% of UK homes projected to overheat, is the nation's current adaptation strategy enough to protect its citizens?
Can the UK seize a £355 billion market opportunity while its own infrastructure crumbles under record heat and drought?
2025 UK Climate Extremes: Hottest, Sunniest Year Drives Wildfires, Water Crisis, and Policy Challenges
Overview
In 2025, the UK experienced its hottest and sunniest year on record, with nearly every month warmer than average and a sustained period from March to August exceeding past temperature norms. This extreme heat led to reduced heating demand for British Gas customers, impacting Centrica’s profits. Urban areas like London saw the hottest days now 4.5°C warmer than decades ago. Scientists directly linked these extremes to human-induced climate change, highlighting a new normal of frequent and intense weather events. The year’s record-breaking warmth signals urgent challenges for society, infrastructure, and the environment.