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UK Endures Gloomiest October in 60 Years
3 Nov, 2025
Summary
- October 2025 saw just 63.3 hours of sunshine, 3rd lowest on record
- Wales and Northern Ireland had their 2nd dullest October ever
- Unsettled weather, including a named storm, contributed to the gloom
According to the Met Office, the UK endured its gloomiest October in nearly 60 years in 2025. The country saw an average of just 63.3 hours of sunshine across the entire month, the third lowest figure since records began in 1910. Only 1960 and 1968 had less sunshine during the month of October.
The bleak conditions were particularly pronounced in Wales and Northern Ireland, which experienced their second dullest October on record. Unsettled autumnal weather, including the first named storm of the season, combined with a week of "anticyclonic gloom" to shut out the sun for much of the month.
While rainfall and temperatures were close to average, the persistent grey skies and low cloud cover made for a gloomy start to the winter season. Experts at the Met Office say this October ranks as the second dullest month of 2025 so far, after a similarly dismal February.
