More Statistics confirming a Climate Shift

There are some really interesting facts emerging which seem to confirm the thought that there is a very definite shift in climate here in the UK.

With all this in mind including the increasing hours of sun and the increasing heat – that means there is definitely a hike in the amount of harmful UV and we need to take heed when taking to the outdoors to enjoy the weather.

🌞 Sunniest Year in the UK (since 1910)

2025 has become the sunniest year on record in the UK, based on sunshine data going back to 1910. Provisional figures show around 1,622 hours of sunshine by mid-December 2025, surpassing the previous record set in 2003.  **→ So, the sunniest year on record currently is 2025.

Provisional Met Office statistics confirm that summer 2025 is officially the warmest summer on record for the UK.

🔥 Hottest Year in the UK

According to climate records, the hottest year on record in the UK is 2022, which was the first year with an annual mean temperature exceeding 10 °C in the UK.  Recent data show annual UK temperatures are getting warmer overall, with many of the warmest years on record occurring in recent decades.  Summer 2025 itself was officially the warmest summer on record for the UK (highest June–August mean) though the full annual 2025 ranking will depend on final data. 

Summary:

• Sunniest year ever (sunshine hours, since 1910): 2025
• Hottest year on record (annual mean temperature): 2022

If final 2025 annual temperature data is published, that could affect the hottest-year ranking—but as of the latest Met Office figures, 2022 holds the temperature record.

🌡️ Top Warmest Years in the UK (Annual Mean Temperature)

These are based on official Met Office climate summaries:

2022 – Warmest year on record (annual mean ~10.03 °C) — the first time the UK annual average topped 10 °C.  2023 – Second warmest year with a mean temperature just below 2022’s.  2014 – Previously held the record before 2022.  2024 – Fourth warmest year on record (behind 2022, 2023, 2014). 

📌 Note: All of the UK’s top 10 warmest years have occurred since 2002, illustrating a strong warming trend over recent decades. 

🔥 Additional Context

Although summer 2025 was the warmest summer on record for the UK (mean ≈ 16.10 °C for June–August), the full year 2025 annual temperature ranking will only be confirmed once complete data is published but it is looking that 2025 will be confirmed as the hottest on record.  The long-term trend shows that almost all of the warmest years have occurred in the 21st century, reflecting ongoing climate warming.

🔥 Heatwaves in 2025

According to Met Office data and official alerts:

🔹 Four Distinct Heatwaves

Four separate heatwaves were identified in summer 2025, each characterised by multiple days with temperatures above ~30 °C.  While these didn’t reach the historic UK extreme of >40 °C (set in 2022), several locations exceeded 35 °C, with the highest recorded temperature ~35.8 °C in Faversham, Kent on 1 July. 

The general pattern was multiple short heatwaves rather than one long, prolonged event. 

📅 Key Heat Episodes

Mid-Late June: Early summer heatwave brought widespread temperatures above 30–32 °C, with several amber/yellow heat-health alerts issued. 

Late June – Early July: Another peak with temperatures around 33 °C+ in parts of England, and some of the warmest days of the year. 

July Heatwaves: Multiple heatwaves in July brought warmest-of-year records in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland alongside England reaching its summer peak. 

August Warm Spell: Further heat-health alerts (amber) signalled a fourth heatwave with temperatures expected into the low 30s again. 

📊 Health & Impacts

Heat-Health Alerts: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office issued multiple amber and yellow heat alerts as temperatures climbed, warning of increased health risk especially for older people and those with health conditions.  Estimated Extra Mortality: Early research estimated hundreds of excess deaths during the June heatwave period based on temperature-mortality relationships, underlining the health impact of heat in the UK. 

📉 Comparisons & Trends

✔️ Record Warmth but Not Extreme Peaks:

2025’s heatwaves were less extreme in absolute temperature than the 40.3 °C record in 2022, but were persistent enough to set overall summer warmth records. 

✔️ Increasing Frequency:

Scientists note that heatwaves and warm summers are becoming more common in the UK, tied to human-driven climate change that increases the likelihood of days above 32 °C and heatwave conditions. 

✔️ Regional Spread:

Temperatures above 30 °C occurred across all four nations — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — during different heatwaves, with record-of-year highs in each. 

🧠 Climate Context

Records show that all five of the UK’s warmest summers have occurred since 2000, highlighting a clear warming trend.  Scientific analysis suggests that events like days above 32 °C are now much more likely due to climate change than they would have been in a pre-industrial climate. 

📌 Summary — UK Heatwaves 2025

✅ Summer 2025 = UK’s warmest on record (mean temp and persistent heat). 

✅ Four separate heatwaves with multiple days above ~30 °C. 

✅ Highest recorded day ~35.8 °C, not eclipsing all-time national record. 

✅ Widespread heat-health alerts and health impacts. 

✅ Heat events more common due to climate change.