Dialogos

UK Experiences Warmest and Sunniest Year on Record in 2025

Published January 2, 2026, 15:01
UK Experiences Warmest and Sunniest Year on Record in 2025

2025 has been recorded as the warmest and sunniest year in the UK's history since detailed meteorological records began in 1884. The average annual temperature reached 10.09 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 2022 (10.03 degrees Celsius). This marks only the second year where the annual average temperature has exceeded 10 degrees Celsius. The Met Office highlights that four of the five warmest years have occurred in the last two decades, indicating an acceleration of climate change. Six record highs for average annual temperature have been set since the beginning of the 21st century – in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014, 2022, and now 2025. This data aligns with global trends, as the World Meteorological Organization reports that the last ten years have been the ten warmest on record. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) predicts that 2025 will be the second or third warmest year globally. Mark McCarthy, head of climate analysis at the Met Office, emphasizes that human-induced global warming is directly impacting the UK's climate. The temperature increase is attributed to persistent high-pressure systems and unusually warm seas.