UK weather: Is this heat 'just summer'?

UK weather: Is this heat 'just summer'?

The United Kingdom is experiencing an extraordinary year in terms of weather records for 2025. Spring was marked as the warmest and sunniest on record, closely followed by June becoming the warmest month on record for England. As the country faces its third heatwave of the year in mid-July, questions arise about whether this is simply a case of typical summer weather or the harsh impact of climate change.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human influence has unequivocally warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land, leading to an increase in extreme weather events such as heatwaves. The rising global temperatures are setting new records and pushing the boundaries of what was once considered normal weather patterns.

In 2025, temperatures have soared above average, with the UK experiencing 1.4C above the long-term average during spring. The trend continued into summer, with record highs being recorded in certain areas. Even though the current temperatures do not surpass the UK’s hottest day on record from 2022, the frequency of extreme heat days is on the rise, pointing towards a changing climate scenario.

Global temperatures have increased by over 1.3 Celsius since the industrial revolution due to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This seemingly small temperature rise has significant impacts, leading to heatwaves that are much warmer than before. The role of natural climate phenomena like El Niño and La Niña is also being scrutinized in the context of ongoing global warming. Despite historical heatwaves like that of 1976, current climate projections suggest that hot spells will become more frequent in the future

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