2025 was the UK's warmest and sunniest year on record. Met Office confirmed.
UK three hottest years all recorded cases have occurred this decade, which meteorologists say is evidence of a rapidly changing climate. The 10 warmest years have all occurred in the last two decades.
With an average temperature of 10.09°C, 2025 topped the list, with 2022 and 2023 the second and third warmest years since records began in 1884. This was only the second time since the 19th century that the average temperature exceeded 10°C.
Met Office chief Dr Mark McCarthy said: “2025 was the warmest year on record for the UK, surpassing the previous record set in 2022 in a series dating back to 1884. We are increasingly seeing UK temperatures break new ground in our changing climate, as evidenced by the new record for the UK's highest average temperature just three years after the last record.
“This very warm year is consistent with the expected effects of man-made climate change. While this does not mean that every year will be the warmest on record, it is clear from our weather observations and climate models that man-made global warming is affecting the UK's climate.”
The spring and summer of 2025 were warm with numerous heatwaves, although the record hottest day is still July 19, 2022, when temperatures exceeded 40°C.
Met Office scientist Dr Emily Carlisle said: “While many will remember the long, warm spring and summer of 2025, what is remarkable about this year is that there has been consistent heat throughout the year, with every month except January and September warmer than average.
“For six months from March to August, every month was at least 1 degree above the 1991-2020 average. This resulted in the warmest spring and warmest summer we have seen in this series.
“From a meteorological perspective, the warming has been caused largely by persistent high-pressure systems causing prolonged drought and sunny weather, as well as above-average sea temperatures around the UK. These factors combine to keep temperatures consistently above normal for much of the year.”
2025 was also the sunniest year on record since 1910, with 1,648.5 hours of sunshine recorded across the UK, 61.4 hours more than the previous record set in 2003.
Longer sunshine times than average have contributed to an increase in the number of solar farms in the UK. This year, more than 6% of the UK's annual energy needs were met by solar energy, an increase of more than 50% on recent years.
Rainfall totals were below average, with some areas experiencing record low rainfall levels.
