UK On Track For Its Hottest Year On Record

The UK is on track to record its hottest year ever, with scientists warning that rising temperatures are no longer unusual events but part of a lasting shift driven by climate change.

Figures from the Met Office show the country’s average temperature for 2025 is currently sitting at about 10.05C, just above the previous record of 10.03C set in 2022. With data counted up until December 21st, forecasters say it is “more likely than not” that the record will stand, even though a colder spell around Christmas could still narrow the margin.

If confirmed, it would be only the second time since records began in the late 1800s that the UK’s annual average temperature has been above 10C. It would also mean that all 10 of the warmest years on record have happened within the past two decades.

“This is our future, encapsulated in data,” said Professor Rachel Kyte, the UK’s special representative for climate. “Now the question is 'how are we going to prepare ourselves and build our resilience to this?'”

The year has been shaped by persistent warmth, especially in spring and summer, which were both the hottest ever recorded in the UK. From March to August, every month ran more than 2C above the long-term average. While peak temperatures stayed below the extreme highs seen in 2022, repeated heatwaves pushed the health system and emergency services to issue multiple warnings.

Senior Met Office scientist Mike Kendon said the broader trend is clear. “At this stage it looks more likely than not that 2025 will be confirmed as the warmest year on record for the UK.” He added: “In terms of our climate, we are living in extraordinary times. The changes we are seeing are unprecedented in observational records back to the 19th century.”

Hot, dry conditions also left large parts of the country vulnerable to drought and wildfires. Spring was one of the driest on record, and by late April the area burned by wildfires had already passed previous annual records. More than 47,000 hectares have burned so far this year, far exceeding earlier highs.

Andy Cole, chief fire officer at Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the scale of the challenge has changed. “I've been doing this for over 20 years and we've seen a marked increase in the number of fires we're having to deal with in the open.”

Although recent rainfall has eased drought conditions in some areas, water levels remain low in places. Experts warn that rapid swings between dry spells and flooding are making it harder for communities, farmers, and ecosystems to cope.

Amy Doherty, a climate scientist at the Met Office, said the underlying cause is clear. “Anthropogenic [human-caused] climate change is causing the warming in the UK as it's causing the warming across the world.” She added that what once felt normal is already being redefined: “What we have seen in the past 40 years, and what we're going to continue to see, is more records broken, more extremely hot years.”

Looking ahead, scientists expect more heatwaves, droughts and wildfires, alongside wetter and more intense winter rainfall. Professor Kyte warned the cost of delay will only rise. “If we don't invest in our adaptation now, it's going to cost us way more.”

Globally, the picture is similar. The world is heading for one of its warmest years on record, even as international efforts to cut emissions face growing political pressure.