This summer was officially the UK’s warmest since records began in 1884, according to provisional statistics from the Met Office which show that the mean temperature for June 1 to August 31 was 16.1°C – 1.51°C above the long-term meteorological average for the period.
The previous hottest was summer 2018, with a mean temperature of 15.76°C. The summer of 1976, often used as a reference point for hot, dry UK summers, has now been pushed out of the top five warmest summers. All of the top five hottest summers have occurred since 2000.
Met Office scientist Dr Emily Carlisle explained, “The persistent warmth this year has been driven by a combination of factors including the domination of high-pressure systems, unusually warm seas around the UK and the dry spring soils.
“These conditions have created an environment where heat builds quickly and lingers, with both maximum and minimum temperatures considerably above average.”
The Met Office also said in a statement that “a summer as hot or hotter than 2025 is now 70 times more likely than it would be in a ‘natural’ climate with no human caused greenhouse gas emissions.”
Met Éireann has also predicted that this summer will go into the books as the warmest on record in Ireland too, surpassing the summer of 1995.
“Provisional Met Éireann data shows that summer 2025 is the warmest on record since 1900, when this temperature dataset began,” said Met Éireann climatologist Paul Moore.
“It hasn’t been particularly sunny during summer, but the dry soils from a warm and sunny spring, the heat domes over mainland Europe, periods of high-pressure dominance and the high sea surface temperatures around Ireland, have kept temperatures over the last three months consistently above average, especially at night-time.
“The added heat in the system and the continuous background warming due to climate change, can now transform an unexceptional season into a record breaking one.”
According to provisional statistics, summer 2025 in Ireland is set to break the record set by the summer of 1995 by 0.08°C. This follows the country’s warmest spring on record – with 2025 becoming the first year since 1983 to set records for a consecutive spring and summer.
The Met Office, in partnership with Met Éireann and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), has also released the storm names for the upcoming 2025-26 season, with all the names having been submitted by members of the public.
The list reflects the names that are most popular but also features many that were submitted as tributes to “loved ones, cherished pets and everyday heroes”, the Met Office said. The first three storms of the season will be Amy, Bram and Chandra.
Met Office chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said, “Naming storms isn’t just about giving them a label, it’s about making sure people take notice.
“When a storm has a name, it becomes easier for the media and public to talk about it, share information and prepare. It’s a simple step that can make a big difference in helping communities stay safe, protect their homes and make informed decisions ahead of severe weather.”
In related news, new research from the UK’s Met Office has revealed the potential of machine learning-based weather models to revolutionize global seasonal forecasting