Climate of the United Kingdom facts for kids

The United Kingdom is an island country in Europe, located between 49° and 61°N latitude. Because it's often in the path of a fast-moving air current called the jet stream, the weather in the UK can change a lot, even in one day! Generally, the UK has cool, wet winters, springs, and autumns with lots of clouds. Summers are usually drier and warmer, but not often super hot.

The UK's climate is known as a humid temperate oceanic climate, or Cfb in the Köppen climate classification system. This is the same type of climate found in much of northwest Europe. The Atlantic Ocean and how far north or south a place is (its latitude) greatly affect the local weather. Northern Ireland, Wales, and the western parts of England and Scotland are usually the mildest, wettest, and windiest. This is because they are closest to the Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures there don't usually get too extreme. Eastern areas are typically drier and less windy. Northern parts of the UK are generally cooler and wetter, with slightly bigger differences between summer and winter temperatures. Southern areas are usually warmer and drier. The south of England gets the least cold air from the north, so its winters are the mildest, though it can still be very cloudy. Summer temperatures in the south of England are usually cool, ranging from about 18°C to 25°C. Sometimes, during summer, there can be a big temperature difference between the far north of Scotland and the southeast of England, often 10-15°C, and sometimes even more!

Köppen climate types of the UK (1991-2020):      Temperate, no dry season, warm summer (Cfb)      Temperate, no dry season, cold summer (Cfc)      Cold, no dry season, cold summer (Dfc)      Polar, tundra (ET)

England

England usually has mild maximum temperatures all year. It also gets more sunshine than Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. July is the sunniest month, with about 193.5 hours of sunshine on average. England has fewer rainy days each month than the rest of the UK, and less total rainfall. May is the driest month, with about 58.4 mm of rain. The climate of south-west England has seasonal temperature changes, but they are not as extreme as in other parts of the UK, with milder winters. Strong winds (gales) are less common in England compared to Scotland. However, strong winds can happen, and sometimes the leftover parts of Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms can reach the UK, causing damage. For example, the Great Storm of 1987 caused a lot of damage in England. Very hot summer days (28°C or more) happen sometimes, but long periods of extreme heat are rare because of England's northern location and cool ocean climate. Experts are worried that climate change might cause water shortages in London before 2050.

Averages

Extremes

Here are the highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in England. The highest temperature in England (and the whole UK) was recorded on 19 July 2022 in Coningsby, Lincolnshire. The lowest temperature was on 10 January 1982 in Newport, Shropshire.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is warmer than Scotland throughout the year. Its maximum temperatures are milder than Wales from December to April, and milder than England from December to February. However, it's cooler during the rest of the year. Northern Ireland gets more sunshine than Scotland every month, but less than the rest of Great Britain. It's also drier and has fewer rainy days than Scotland, except in May. Northern Ireland is drier than Wales every month, but it has more rainy days. The rainiest month is January, with about 17.8 days having more than 1 mm of rain on average.

Below are the record temperatures for Northern Ireland, according to the UK Met Office. Both the highest and lowest temperatures were recorded in Castlederg in County Tyrone.

Scotland

Scotland is generally cooler than the rest of the UK. In the lower areas, it has an oceanic climate. In the mountains and parts of Shetland, summers are cool enough for it to be called a subpolar oceanic climate. Overall, Scotland has average minimum temperatures just above freezing in winter and fairly cool average highs of about 17°C in summer. The Central Lowlands have warmer summer temperatures than other parts of Scotland and have even set some UK records. Aviemore is known as one of the coldest inhabited places because it's inland and quite high up (about 210 meters). January is the wettest month in Scotland. Most months are wetter than in other parts of the UK, except for late spring to early autumn.

Below are the record temperatures for Scotland, according to the UK Met Office.

Wales

Wales has warmer temperatures all year than Northern Ireland and Scotland. Its winters are milder than England's, but its winter maximum temperatures are cooler than Northern Ireland's. Wales is wetter than Northern Ireland and England throughout the year, but it has fewer rainy days than Northern Ireland. This means that when it rains in Wales, it often rains harder. Wales is also drier than Scotland in most months, and has fewer rainy days. Wales gets more sunshine than Scotland and Northern Ireland, but less than neighboring England. May is the sunniest month, with about 186.8 hours of sunshine. The southwestern coast is the sunniest part of Wales, with Tenby being the sunniest town, getting over 1700 hours of sunshine each year. The least sunny time of year is from November to January, and the sunniest is from May to August. The mountains are the least sunny areas, with some parts getting less than 1200 hours of sunshine annually. The main wind direction is from the southwest. Coastal areas are the windiest, with strong winds (gales) happening most often in winter, about 15 to 30 days each year. Inland, gales happen fewer than six days a year. Wales has long summer days and short winter days because it's quite far north (between 53° 43′ N and 51° 38′ N). Aberystwyth, on the west coast, has almost 17 hours of daylight during the summer solstice (longest day). In midwinter, daylight there is just over seven and a half hours. The varied geography of Wales causes local differences in sunshine, rain, and temperature. Average annual coastal temperatures reach about 10.5°C, and in low inland areas, it's about 1°C cooler. It gets colder at higher altitudes, with temperatures dropping about 0.5°C for every 100 meters higher you go. So, the higher parts of Snowdonia have average annual temperatures of about 5°C. Temperatures in Wales are warmer than expected for its latitude because of the North Atlantic Current, a part of the Gulf Stream. This warm ocean current brings warmer water to northern areas, affecting most of northwest Europe. The air warmed by the Gulf Stream also blows inland with the winds. In low areas, summers are usually warm and sunny. Average maximum temperatures are between 19°C and 22°C. Winters are often quite wet, with a lot of rain, and temperatures usually stay above freezing. Spring and autumn feel similar, with temperatures usually above 14°C, which is also the average annual daytime temperature. Rainfall varies a lot. The further west you go, the more rain you can expect, sometimes up to 40% more. In low areas, rain can be unpredictable any time of year, but summer showers are usually shorter. The uplands of Wales get the most rain, often more than 50 rainy days in winter (December to February), dropping to about 35 rainy days in summer (June to August). Annual rainfall in Snowdonia can be between 3000 mm (Blaenau Ffestiniog) and 5000 mm (Snowdon's summit). When temperatures drop below 5°C, rain is likely to turn into sleet or snow, and snow often stays on the ground in these areas for about 30 days a year. Snow falls several times each winter in inland areas but is rare near the coast. Coastal areas can get less than 1000 mm of rain annually.

Below are the record temperatures for Wales, according to the UK Met Office.

Seasons

Spring

Spring in the UK is from March to May. It's usually a calm, cool season. The Atlantic Ocean has lost much of its warmth from autumn and winter. As the sun gets higher and days get longer, temperatures slowly rise. However, the cool ocean waters and westerly winds keep things from getting too hot too quickly. Snow can still fall earlier in the season, especially in March, when it's colder. Average spring temperatures depend a lot on how far north or south a place is. Most of Scotland and the mountains of Wales and northern England are the coolest, with average temperatures from about -0.6°C to 5.8°C. The southern half of England has the warmest spring temperatures, between 8.8°C and 10.3°C. Spring temperatures have been getting warmer in recent years. The warmest spring on record was 2017, with an average UK temperature of 9.12°C. The coldest was in 1891, at 5.42°C. The sunniest spring ever recorded in the UK was in 2020, with 626.0 hours of sunshine. The dullest was in 1983, with only 322.3 hours. The wettest spring was in 1947, with 332.4mm of rain. The driest was in 1893, with just 107.4mm of rain.

Summer

Summer runs from June to August and is the warmest and usually sunniest season. Rainfall can vary a lot locally because of thunderstorms. These thunderstorms happen mostly in southern, eastern, and central England, and are less common and less strong in the north and west. Areas like Greater London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk see the most thunderstorms in summer. Other regions like the South West, Midlands, Northern England, Wales, and Scotland also get thunderstorms, but they are generally less frequent and less severe. Sometimes, a weather pattern called the "Spanish Plume" brings very hot weather to the country. This can cause severe thunderstorms in the South West and South East, which become weaker as they move north. Droughts (long periods of dry weather) happen often. The warmest summer on record for the UK was in 2018, with an average temperature of 15.76°C. The coldest was in 1922, with an average of 12.24°C. Other cool summers include 1920, 1954, 1956, 1962, 1965, and 1972. The sunniest summer was in 1976, with 672.1 hours of sunshine. The dullest was in 1954, with only 372.7 hours. The wettest summer was in 1879, with 399.9mm of rain. The driest was in 1995, with just 105.9mm of rain.

Autumn

Autumn in the United Kingdom lasts from September to November. The weather can become more unsettled. As cool air from the North moves south and meets warm air from the tropics, it can create stormy conditions. This, combined with the warm ocean from spring and summer, can lead to unsettled weather. Also, the land can become colder than the ocean, causing a lot of condensation and rain clouds. Strong storms from the Atlantic can become very powerful during autumn, with winds sometimes reaching hurricane force (over 119 km/h). Western areas, being closer to the Atlantic, experience these severe conditions more often. Autumn, especially later in the season, is often the stormiest time of year. The Great Storm of 1987 was one very intense storm. Another severe storm hit the UK on 27 October 2002, with wind speeds over 123 km/h recorded near Swansea. The autumn of 2013 also had many severe storms, including the St. Jude's Storm on 28 October 2013. Autumn can sometimes be cold. In recent years, very low temperatures and heavy snowfall have been recorded in November, such as in 1985, 1993, and 2010. A new record low of -18.0°C was set in Wales on 28 November 2010. Snow also fell widely across the UK on 28–29 October 2008, causing traffic problems. However, the UK sometimes has an "Indian summer," where temperatures, especially at night, can be very mild and rarely fall below 10°C. This happens because the surrounding Atlantic Ocean and seas are at their warmest, keeping the country in warm air even though the sun isn't as strong. Examples include 1985, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2011, and 2016, when September felt more like summer. Autumns since 2000 have generally been very mild, with some very wet and very dry periods. In 2011 and 2016, many areas recorded their highest temperatures of the year in September and October. On 13 October 2018, temperatures reached 26.5°C in Lincolnshire, one of the latest high temperatures ever recorded. Coastal areas in the southern half of England have the warmest autumns, with average temperatures between 10.7°C and 13.0°C. Mountainous areas of Wales and northern England, and most of Scotland, have average temperatures between 1.7°C and 7.5°C.

Hardiness zones in the British Isles. Based on the USDA system and used to indicate growing conditions for plants.

The warmest autumn on record was in 2006, with an average temperature of 11.35°C. The coldest was in 1887, at 6.97°C. The sunniest autumn on record for the UK was 1959, with an average of 341.3 sunshine hours. The dullest was in 1968, with just 208.2 hours. The wettest autumn on record for the UK was in 2000, with an average of 509.6mm of rain. The driest was in 1922, with 192.7mm of rain.

Winter

Winter in the UK is from December to February. It's usually cool, wet, windy, and cloudy. Night temperatures rarely drop below -10°C, and daytime temperatures rarely go above 15°C. There can be a lot of rain, but snow isn't very common despite the UK's northern location. The main areas with significant snowfall are the Scottish Highlands and the Pennines, where the higher altitudes mean colder weather. For most of the UK, snow falls often but is usually light and doesn't last long, except in higher areas where it can stay for 1-5 months or even longer. Later in winter, the weather usually becomes more stable, with less wind, less rain, and lower temperatures. This is especially true near the coasts, as the Atlantic Ocean is often at its coldest after being cooled throughout autumn and winter. However, early winter is often unsettled and stormy, often the wettest and windiest time of the year.

Snow cover on The Saddle in the Scottish Highlands

Snow falls every year in the UK, but usually not much. It mainly affects northern and eastern areas, high ground in Wales, and especially the mountains of Scotland. There's often enough snow in Scotland for skiing at its five ski resorts, which usually operate from December to April, depending on snowfall. Sometimes, strong storms called "polar lows" bring heavy snow and blizzard-like conditions to parts of the UK, especially Scotland. Blizzards have become rarer in the 21st century. When there are light winds and high pressure, frost and fog can cause problems for drivers. Mean winter temperatures in the UK are most affected by how close a place is to the sea. The coldest areas are the mountains of Wales and northern England, and inland areas of Scotland, with averages from -3.6°C to 2.3°C. Coastal areas, especially in the south and west, have the mildest winters, averaging 5°C to 8.7°C. The UK gets snow every year, but usually in small amounts. Some winters have been very extreme, like 1684, 1740, 1795 (when London had its record lowest temperature of -21.1°C), 1947, and 1963. In recent times, heavy snowfalls have become rarer, but still happen, such as in 1978–79, 1981–82, 1986–87, and 1990–91. The winter of 2008/09 had the heaviest snowfall since 1991, and the winter of 2009–10 was even more severe, with many parts of the UK experiencing their coldest and snowiest winters since 1978/79. Temperatures dropped to -22.3°C at Altnaharra, Sutherland. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the UK was -27.2°C, on 10 January 1982 and 11 February 1895 in Braemar, Scotland, and on 30 December 1995 in Altnaharra. December 2015 was the wettest calendar month ever recorded in the UK, and January 2016 was the second wettest. In these months, some northern and western parts had 2 to 4 times more rainfall than normal. December 2015 was also the warmest December across the whole UK. The mildest winter on record for England was 2015–16, with an average temperature of 6.47°C. The coldest winter on record for England was 1962–63, with an average temperature of -0.60°C.

Sunshine and Cloud

A sunny spring day

The UK gets about 1339.7 hours of sunshine each year on average, which is less than 30% of the maximum possible. Sunshine hours vary from 1200 to about 1580 hours per year. Since 1996, the UK has been receiving more sunshine than the average from 1981 to 2010. Generally, the UK has frequent cloudy skies because of its northern location and ocean-influenced climate. The fewest sunshine hours are in the northern parts of the country, and the most are in the southern parts and southern coast of England. The counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, and Kent are the sunniest areas, with about 1,750 hours of sunshine per year. Northern, western, and mountainous areas are generally the cloudiest, with some mountainous areas getting fewer than 1,000 hours of sunshine a year.

An overcast day in Plymouth, south-west England

Valley areas, like the South Wales Valleys, get less sunshine than flatter areas because the mountains block the sun in the early morning and late evening. This is especially noticeable in winter when there are only a few hours of sunshine. The mountains of Wales, northern England, and Scotland can be very cloudy with a lot of mist and fog. Near the coast, sea fog can form in spring and early summer. Fog can also develop over inland areas and last for hours or even days in winter, making driving and flying dangerous. Sometimes, high pressure systems (anticyclones) move over the UK and can stay for weeks or months. The dry air from these systems often brings clear skies and few clouds, leading to frosty nights in winter and warm days in summer. Average sunshine hours in winter range from 38–108 hours in some mountainous areas and western Scotland, up to 217 hours in the south and east of England. In summer, average sunshine hours range from 294–420 hours in northern Scotland and Northern Ireland, to 600–760 hours in southern English coastal counties. The most sunshine recorded in one month was 383.9 hours at Eastbourne (East Sussex) in July 1911.

Extremes

Atlantic Ocean

One of the biggest influences on the UK's climate is the Atlantic Ocean, especially the Gulf Stream. This current carries warm water from warmer parts of the world and changes the cold air masses that pass over the UK. This makes the country's climate much milder and warmer. If this current didn't exist, winter temperatures would be about 10°C lower, similar to eastern Russia or Canada at the same latitude. This warm current allows England to have vineyards (places where grapes for wine are grown) at the same latitude where Canada has polar bears! These warm ocean currents also bring a lot of moisture, which contributes to the famously wet climate in western parts of the UK.

Winds

Because the UK is far north and close to a large ocean, it experiences strong winds. The most common wind direction is from the southwest, but winds can blow from any direction for long periods. Winds are strongest near coasts facing west and on exposed headlands (points of land sticking out into the sea). Gales (winds with speeds of 51 to 101 km/h) often happen when strong low-pressure systems pass over the country. The Hebrides (islands off Scotland) experience gales on about 35 days a year, while inland areas in England and Wales get fewer than 5 days of gales a year. High-up areas tend to have stronger winds. Great Dun Fell in Cumbria (at 857 meters) averaged 114 days of gales a year between 1963 and 1976. The highest wind gust recorded at a low level in England was 191 km/h at Gwennap Head in Cornwall on 15 December 1979. A 115 mph gust was also recorded at Shoreham-By-Sea on 16 October 1987. In Scotland, Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire recorded 142 mph on 13 February 1989, which was equalled during Cyclone Xaver on 5 December 2013. Wales' highest wind gust of 124 mph was set at Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan on 28 October 1989. Very strong storms typically affect the UK during autumn and winter. Barometric pressure (air pressure) also plays a role in storm systems. For the UK, the highest recorded pressure was 1053.6mb in Aberdeen on 31 January 1902, and the lowest was 925.6mb in Ochtertyre on 26 January 1884.

Rainfall

Rainfall amounts can vary greatly across the United Kingdom. Generally, the further west and the higher the land, the more rain falls. The mountains of Wales, Scotland, the Pennines in Northern England, and the moors of South West England are the wettest parts of the country. In some of these places, as much as 4577 mm of rain can fall annually, making them some of the wettest locations in Europe. The wettest spot in the UK is Crib Goch, in Snowdonia, which averaged 178 inches of rain over a 30-year period. Most rainfall in the UK comes from North Atlantic storms that move into the country throughout the year from the west or southwest. These storms are especially frequent and strong in autumn and winter and can bring long periods of heavy rain, often causing flooding. Some parts of England are quite dry compared to other places in the world, which might surprise some people. London receives just under 650 mm of rain per year, which is less than Rome, Sydney, or New York City. In East Anglia, it typically rains on about 113 days per year. Most of the south, southeast, and East Anglia receive less than 700 mm of rain per year. The English counties of Essex, Cambridgeshire, and parts of North Yorkshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk are among the driest in the UK, with an average annual rainfall of around 600 mm. This is because mountains in the South West, Wales, and Cumbria block some of the moist air, creating a "rain shadow" effect to the east. In some years, rainfall totals in Essex and South Suffolk can be below 450 mm, which is less than the average annual rainfall in Jerusalem or Beirut. The UK's reputation for being rainy comes more from frequent cool, cloudy, and drizzly conditions rather than extremely high total rainfall amounts. Parts of the UK have had drought problems in recent years, especially in 2004–2006 and more recently in 2018. Fires broke out in some areas, even in the normally damp higher ground of northwest England and Wales. The land in much of England and east Wales became very dry, and water restrictions were put in place in some areas. July 2006 was the hottest month on record for the UK and much of Europe. The impact of droughts is greater because the driest parts of England also have the most people, meaning higher water use. The 2006 drought ended when the period from October 2006 to January 2007 had much higher than average rainfall. December 2015 was the wettest month ever recorded in the UK, with almost double the average rainfall.

Extremes

Temperature

Cambridge Botanic Garden Weather Station where a then-record high of 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) was recorded

Generally, the United Kingdom has cool to mild winters and warm to hot summers, with moderate temperature changes throughout the year. In England, the average annual temperature varies from 8.5°C in the north to 11°C in the south, but in higher areas, it can be several degrees lower. This small temperature variation is largely due to the moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean. Water heats up and cools down slowly, which keeps coastal areas warmer in winter and cooler in summer. The ocean is coldest in February or early March, so February is often the coldest month near the coast. Inland, January and February are usually equally cold. Temperatures tend to drop lowest on late winter nights inland, especially when there's high pressure, clear skies, light winds, and snow on the ground. Sometimes, cold air from the polar regions or mainland Europe can be drawn over the UK, bringing very cold weather. The bottoms of inland valleys, away from the warming influence of the sea, can be particularly cold as dense, cold air settles there. A temperature of -26.1°C was recorded in such conditions at Edgmond in Shropshire on 10 January 1982, which is the coldest temperature ever recorded in England and Wales. The next day, the coldest maximum temperature in England, -11.3°C, was recorded at the same place. On average, the warmest winter temperatures occur on the south and west coasts. However, warm temperatures sometimes happen due to a foehn wind (a warm, dry wind that blows down the side of a mountain) after crossing the mountains. Temperatures in these areas can rise to 15°C in winter on rare occasions. This is especially noticeable in northern Scotland, mainly Aberdeenshire, where these high temperatures can occur in midwinter when the sun is very low in the sky. July is, on average, the warmest month. The highest temperatures tend to occur away from the Atlantic in southern, eastern, and central England, where summer temperatures can rise above 30°C.

Severe weather

The United Kingdom is not particularly known for extreme weather, as its cool, oceanic climate usually prevents very strong storms. However, events like floods and droughts can happen. For example, the summers of 1976 or 2018 had temperatures as high as 35°C, causing droughts and water shortages. Long periods of extreme weather, such as the droughts of 1975–1976, summer 2006, and spring 2012, or the very hot summers of 1911, 1976, 2003, 2006, and 2018, and the cold winters of 1946–1947, 1962–1963, 2009–2010, and 2010–2011, are often caused by blocking anticyclones (high-pressure systems). These can last for days, weeks, or even months. In winter, they bring long periods of cold, dry weather, and in summer, long periods of hot, dry weather.

Hurricane Gordon's path

There have also been severe flash floods caused by intense rainfall. The most severe was the Lynmouth disaster of 1952, where 34 people died and many homes were destroyed. In the summer of 2004, a severe flash flood hit the town of Boscastle in Cornwall. However, the worst floods in the UK in modern times were the North Sea flood of 1953. A powerful storm from the Atlantic moved down the east coast of England, creating a huge storm surge that was magnified as the North Sea narrowed. Over 300 people died in eastern England due to these floods. Thunderstorms are not very common in the UK. The areas that see the most are in southern England, while northern and western areas have very few each year. In London, thunderstorms happen on average 14–19 days a year, but in most of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, they occur only about 3 days a year. Occasionally, thunderstorms can be severe and produce large hailstones, as seen in Ottery St Mary, Devon in October 2008, where hail drifts reached 1.8 meters deep. Strong winds occur mainly in autumn and winter, linked to low-pressure systems. Scotland experiences hurricane-force winds in most winters. The Gale of January 1976, Great Storm of 1987 (which caused 23 deaths), and the Burns' Day storm of 1990 (which caused 97 deaths) are particularly severe examples. Scotland saw winds of 142 mph during Cyclone Xaver in 2013. The most rain recorded in a single day was 279 mm at Martinstown (Dorset) on 18 July 1955. Heavy rain also fell between 20 and 25 June 2007, with some areas getting a month's rainfall in one day. This flooding caused four deaths and over £1.5 billion in damage. Tropical cyclones (hurricanes) do not directly affect the UK because it's too far north, the ocean waters are too cold, and it's too far from where these storms usually form. Any tropical cyclone that comes near the UK changes into an extratropical cyclone, which the UK experiences frequently. The Great Storm of 1987 was a very deep low-pressure system that included the remnants of Hurricane Floyd. Hurricane Lili of 1996 and Hurricane Gordon of 2006 both crossed the UK as strong extratropical cyclones with hurricane-force winds, causing transport closures, power cuts, and flooding in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and South West England. In 2011, the remnants of Hurricane Katia passed over northwestern Scotland with winds near 70 mph.

Tornadoes

The United Kingdom has at least 33 tornadoes per year, which is more than any other country in the world for its size. Although these tornadoes are much weaker than those in the United States, a significant number occur annually. Dr. Ted Fujita, an American meteorologist, was the first to identify the UK as a top spot for tornadoes in 1973. Most tornadoes are weak, but sometimes destructive ones happen, such as the 2005 Birmingham tornado and the 2006 London tornado, which caused significant damage and injuries. The largest ever recorded was thought to be an F4 tornado in London in 1091. The deadliest known tornado was an F3 that occurred on 27 October 1913 in south Wales. The UK also holds the record for the largest known tornado outbreak outside of the United States. On 23 November 1981, 105 tornadoes formed from a cold front in just 5.25 hours. Almost every county in a triangular area from Gwynedd to Humberside to Essex was hit by at least one tornado, and Norfolk was hit by at least 13. Luckily, most tornadoes were short-lived and weak, and no deaths occurred. Southern England, between the Isle of Wight and Beachy Head, is known as a "hotspot" for tornadoes and waterspouts. This area, called 'The Isle of Wight and South Coast Anomaly,' sees a lot of activity, possibly due to swirling air currents around the Isle of Wight under certain weather conditions.

Climate history

Temperature change in the United Kingdom since 1884 in the context of global warming.

The climate of the United Kingdom has changed over time. In some periods, it was much warmer, and in others, much colder. The last glacial period was a time of extreme cold that lasted for tens of thousands of years and ended about 10,000 years ago. During this time, temperatures were so low that much of the surrounding ocean froze, and a large ice sheet covered most of the UK, except for southern England and southern coastal areas of Wales. A cold period from the 16th to the mid-19th centuries is known as the Little Ice Age. Temperature records in England go back to the mid-17th century. The Central England temperature (CET) record is the oldest in the world, combining records from several locations in central England. Rainfall records date back to the 18th century, with the modern England and Wales Precipitation series starting in 1766. Like many parts of the world, the UK has seen a warming trend in temperatures over the last century. While some of this might be a recovery from a cooler period in the mid-20th century, the last 20 years have seen unusually warm weather. In July 2019, the BBC reported that Met Office records show the 10 warmest years in the UK have all occurred since 2002, with 2014 being the warmest. In the same period, the coolest year was 2010, but it still ranks as only the 22nd coolest year on record overall. In January 2024, provisional data from the Met Office reported that 2023 was the second hottest year on record, just behind 2022. For both Wales and Northern Ireland, 2023 was their hottest year on record. The averages below use month CET data from 1659, calculated over 30-year periods as advised by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Monthly temperature extremes

The UK Met Office only accepts monthly temperature extremes if they are reported at stations below 500 meters in elevation. Lower temperatures have often been reported at slightly higher stations.

Overall

Maximum temperatures

Below is a list of the highest and lowest daily maximum temperatures recorded in the UK. This is in accordance with the Met Office, so readings from the Cairn Gorm station are not on this list.

Minimum temperatures

Below is a list of the highest and lowest daily minimum temperatures recorded in the UK. This is in accordance with the met office, so readings from the Cairn Gorm station are not on this list.

Climate change

The Met Office predicts that average annual temperatures in the UK will increase by 2°C and the warmest summer day will increase by 3°C by the 2050s. Average winter rainfall is also likely to increase, and most areas will see a slight decrease in annual rainfall. According to the Met Office, the decade from 2000 to 2009 was the warmest in the UK since records began in 1850. Also, the Met Office and BBC reported in 2019 that the 10 warmest years in the UK have all happened since 2002. The UK has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 68% by the year 2030, as part of its commitments to the Paris Agreement.

See also

In Spanish: Clima del Reino Unido para niños