New analysis of observations shows that extremes of temperature in the UK are most affected by human induced climate change. This means the UK is seeing, on average, more frequent periods of hot weather, bringing challenges for infrastructure, health and wellbeing. The observations also suggest an increase in rainfall extremes.
The new analysis features in this year’s annual publication of the ‘State of the UK Climate’ report. Published in the Royal Meteorological Society’s ‘International Journal of Climatology’, the report is a comprehensive review of the UK climate and significant weather events through 2023. This report is based on observations from the UK’s network of weather stations, using data extending back to the 19th Century to provide long term context.
Using an example of 28°C, the frequency of days reaching this threshold has increased nearly everywhere across the UK. Where in the 1961-1990 averaging period only London and Hampshire recorded six or more days over 28°C, by the latest decade (2014-2023) this has spread across much of England and Wales, with frequencies in the south east increasing to over 12 days each year in many counties.
Read the full Met Office press release
Report highlights
- The UK’s climate continues to change. Recent decades have been warmer, wetter and sunnier than the 20th century.
- Observations show that extremes of temperature in the UK have been affected much more than average temperature.
- The UK has warmed at a rate consistent with the observed change in global surface air temperature over land.
- The UK’s second warmest year of 2023, the warmest June and the September heatwave were all made more likely by climate change.
- Sea surface temperatures were 0.9C higher in 2023 than the 1961 to 1990 average
- Winter rainfall across the country was 24% greater over the last decade than the average from 1961 to 1990.
- The number of “hot” (28C) days has more than doubled over that period, and the number of “very hot” (30C) and “extremely hot” (32C) days has more than tripled.
Read ‘State of the UK Climate 2023’ in the International Journal of Climatology.
Covered in the Guardian: Water temperatures near UK last year were hottest on record, say scientists