2025 was UK’s hottest and sunniest year on record

The United Kingdom recorded its hottest and sunniest year on record in 2025, the national weather service confirmed on Friday, calling it a clear demonstration of the impacts of climate change.

According to the Met Office, the UK's mean temperature in 2025 stood at 10.09 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 10.03°C set in 2022.

"2025 now joins 2022 and 2023 in the top three warmest years since 1884," the Met Office said in a statement, adding that it was only the second year in recorded history when the UK's annual mean temperature exceeded 10°C.

The data shows that four of the UK's last five years now rank among the five warmest years since records began in 1884, while all of the top 10 hottest years have occurred within the past two decades.

The Met Office had earlier announced that 2025 was also the sunniest year since sunshine records began in 1910. The UK recorded 1,648.5 hours of sunshine last year, exceeding the previous record set in 2003 by 61.4 hours.

Meteorologists attributed the record sunshine to an exceptional spring followed by prolonged clear conditions during the summer.

Mark McCarthy, head of climate attribution at the Met Office, said the "very warm" year was consistent with the expected consequences of human-induced climate change.

"Although this does not mean every year will be the warmest on record, it is clear from our observations and climate models that global warming is affecting the UK's climate," he said.

Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, said the record-breaking temperatures were "undoubtedly due to climate change," warning that delays in cutting greenhouse gas emissions would lead to increased damage and suffering.

The UK experienced persistent dry and sunny conditions throughout 2025, with every month except January and September recording above-average temperatures. Spring and summer, which included four heatwaves, were the warmest on record, while spring was the driest in more than a century.

Several regions declared droughts as reservoir levels fell below 50% of capacity, prompting some water companies to impose hosepipe bans.

Fire services in England also reported the highest number of spring wildfires since comparable records began in 2011. At least 12,454 grassland, woodland and crop fires were recorded between March and May 2025—more than four times the number logged during the same period in 2024.

Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle said the prolonged warmth was driven by persistent high-pressure systems, clear skies and above-average sea temperatures around the UK.

"These factors combined to keep temperatures consistently higher than normal for much of the year," she said.

Meanwhile, Britain generated a record amount of electricity from renewable sources in 2025. Wind, solar and biomass supplied 47% of the country's electricity, according to a study by climate and energy website Carbon Brief.

The UK aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels and reach carbon neutrality by mid-century.