Alpha News

Record Warmth in the UK: 2025 Was the Hottest Year on Record

Published January 2, 2026, 14:26

The UK experienced its warmest and sunniest year on record in 2025, surpassing the previous high set in 2022, the national meteorological service announced. Persistent high-pressure systems and unusually warm seas drove up temperatures. The average annual temperature was 10.09 degrees Celsius, exceeding the 2022 average of 10.03 degrees Celsius and marking only the second year since detailed records began in 1884 that the annual average temperature has exceeded 10 degrees Celsius. Four of the last five years also rank among the five warmest on record, highlighting the rapid climate change. The Met Office notes that human-caused global warming is impacting the UK's climate, with the 10 warmest years all occurring in the last two decades. These data align with global trends, as 2024 was the warmest year globally and for Europe.