UK on Track for One of Its Hottest Summers on Record

As of August 18th, 2025, the UK is on track to experience one of its hottest summers on record, according to the Met Office. The summer has been marked by consistently warm temperatures, even outside the four heatwaves that have hit the country.

June and July both saw well-above-average conditions, with the UK's average temperature from June 1st to August 17th standing at 16.2°C, some 1.6°C above the average. Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle stated, "It's looking like this summer is on track to be one of the warmest, if not 'the' warmest, since the series began in 1884."

While the UK has not experienced record-breaking highs, with the peak temperature so far this year reaching 35.8°C, the overall trend of consistently above-average temperatures is what matters. This persistent warmth is driven by a combination of factors, including dry ground from spring, high-pressure systems, and unusually warm seas around the UK.

Rainfall has also been tracking below average, with some regions, such as the Midlands, seeing just 58% of the summer's long-term average. This follows England's driest spring in more than 100 years and the driest January to July since 1929.

The Met Office said climate change is also playing a role in pushing up summer temperatures, with the UK warming by around 0.25°C per decade. Despite the challenges, the UK appears to be on the cusp of experiencing one of its hottest summers on record.