2025 on track to be UK's warmest year on record, says Met Office

The UK could be set to have had its warmest year on record, according to forecasters.

The Met Office says 2025 is on track to become one of the UK's warmest years, possibly surpassing 2022.

The average annual temperature is tracking at 10.05C - ahead of the previous record of 10.03C set in 2022.

A forecasted cold spell over Christmas means the final figure is not yet confirmed.

If it is confirmed, 2025 will be only the second year in observational records where the UK's annual mean temperature has topped 10C.

Four of the last five years will then appear in the top five warmest years since records began in 1884. All of the top 10 warmest years will have occurred in the last two decades.

A new record has been previously set for the UK annual mean temperature five times this century - in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014 and 2022.

'Extraordinary times'

Mike Kendon, a senior Met Office scientist, said it was "more likely than not" this year would be confirmed as the UK's warmest ever.

"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," said Mr Kendon.

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Professor of climate science Friederike Otto called the findings "devastating and utterly unsurprising".

He added: "10C might not sound very warm, but it is an average and means much higher temperatures in the summer, high temperatures that would have never been possible are now common and that is not good news."

Climate minister Katie White warned people to "sit up and listen" and said climate change was "reshaping everyday life".

"Four heatwaves in one summer, record wildfires in the Highlands, flash flood warnings from Cornwall to Inverness. This is not normal," said Ms White.

She added: "The good news is we know what works, listening to the science, backing British innovators, and getting on with solutions that cut emissions and build a cleaner, safer future."

(c) Sky News 2025: 2025 on track to be UK's warmest year on record, says Met Office