New UK weather records being set ‘very frequently': report
England and Wales endured the wettest winter in 250 years in from from October 2023 to March 2024, with six of the 10 wettest winters occurring in the 21st century.
The report also found that last year was the UK's fourth warmest since 1884 with the last three years all in the top five warmest on record.
Records were now being broken 'very frequently', said Mike Kendon, Met Office climate scientist and lead author of the Met Office's State of the UK Climate report.
'It's the extremes of temperature and rainfall that is changing the most, and that's of profound concern, and that's going to continue in the future,' he said.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the findings showed Britain's way of life was 'under threat'.
'Whether it is extreme heat, droughts, flooding, we can see it actually with our own eyes, that it's already happening, and we need to act,' he said.
In 2024, experts recorded the warmest spring, the second warmest February and the fifth warmest winter on record.
Rising sea levels surrounding the UK were speeding up, with two-thirds of the rise recorded since 1900 taking place in the last 30 years, the report said.
'Every year that goes by is another upward step on the warming trajectory our climate is on,' Kendon said.
'Observations show that our climate in the UK is now notably different to what it was just a few decades ago,' he added.
- 'Clear signs' -
Changes to the seasons were evident, according to a volunteer-fed database drawn upon by the Met Office researchers.
Out of 13 spring events monitored in 2024, 12 occurred earlier than average.
The report reinforced the 'clear and urgent signals of our changing climate', added Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society.
The research, however, did not find any evidence that the UK's climate was becoming more windy or stormy.
Last month, a group of experts tasked with advising the government said the UK had cut its carbon emissions by 50.4 percent since 1990 levels.
Much of the drop in emissions of planet-heating greenhouse gases -- blamed for triggering climate change -- was due to the closure of the UK's coal-fired power generation plants, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said in its report to parliament.
The progress could largely be attributed to the policies of the previous Conservative government, the report said, while crediting the new government of Labour Prime Minister Keir with 'bold policy decisions this year'.
Starmer, elected just over a year ago, has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 81 percent on 1990 levels by 2035, strengthening the UK government's ambitions to help curb climate change. – AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
New UK weather records being set ‘very frequently': report
LONDON: Extremes in temperature and rainfall in the UK are becoming increasingly frequent, the nation's meteorological service said Monday in a report on Britain's changing climate. England and Wales endured the wettest winter in 250 years in from from October 2023 to March 2024, with six of the 10 wettest winters occurring in the 21st century. The report also found that last year was the UK's fourth warmest since 1884 with the last three years all in the top five warmest on record. Records were now being broken 'very frequently', said Mike Kendon, Met Office climate scientist and lead author of the Met Office's State of the UK Climate report. 'It's the extremes of temperature and rainfall that is changing the most, and that's of profound concern, and that's going to continue in the future,' he said. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the findings showed Britain's way of life was 'under threat'. 'Whether it is extreme heat, droughts, flooding, we can see it actually with our own eyes, that it's already happening, and we need to act,' he said. In 2024, experts recorded the warmest spring, the second warmest February and the fifth warmest winter on record. Rising sea levels surrounding the UK were speeding up, with two-thirds of the rise recorded since 1900 taking place in the last 30 years, the report said. 'Every year that goes by is another upward step on the warming trajectory our climate is on,' Kendon said. 'Observations show that our climate in the UK is now notably different to what it was just a few decades ago,' he added. - 'Clear signs' - Changes to the seasons were evident, according to a volunteer-fed database drawn upon by the Met Office researchers. Out of 13 spring events monitored in 2024, 12 occurred earlier than average. The report reinforced the 'clear and urgent signals of our changing climate', added Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society. The research, however, did not find any evidence that the UK's climate was becoming more windy or stormy. Last month, a group of experts tasked with advising the government said the UK had cut its carbon emissions by 50.4 percent since 1990 levels. Much of the drop in emissions of planet-heating greenhouse gases -- blamed for triggering climate change -- was due to the closure of the UK's coal-fired power generation plants, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said in its report to parliament. The progress could largely be attributed to the policies of the previous Conservative government, the report said, while crediting the new government of Labour Prime Minister Keir with 'bold policy decisions this year'. Starmer, elected just over a year ago, has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 81 percent on 1990 levels by 2035, strengthening the UK government's ambitions to help curb climate change. – AFP
Free Malaysia Today
02-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
England experiences warmest June on record
Amber heat alerts, which warn of a risk to vulnerable people, were in place across parts of England. (Pexels pic) LONDON : England last month experienced its warmest June since records began in 1884, while the UK recorded its second-warmest June over the same period, the meteorological office said today. The announcement of the provisional figures also coincided with Britain recording its hottest day of the year so far, as much of Europe swelters from an early summer heatwave. The mercury hit 33.6°C today in southeast England, topping the previous hottest day on June 21. The Met Office said England saw a record mean temperature of 16.9°C for June. The UK's mean temperature last month was only surpassed in June 2023, it added. Last month had two heatwaves in parts of England and Wales, which recorded its third warmest June. It followed the UK – otherwise known for its damp and cool weather – also experiencing its warmest and sunniest spring in over a century in 2025. 'Past studies have shown it is virtually certain that human influence has increased the occurrence and intensity of extreme heat events such as this,' Met Office climate scientist Amy Doherty said. On June 30, temperatures soared above 32°C, with Wimbledon recording its hottest ever opening day and implementing a heat rule to protect players' health. Amber heat alerts – which warn of a risk to vulnerable people and pressure on the health service – were in place across parts of England. The UK also saw higher than average sunshine across all four of its nations in June, according to the latest figures. A Met Office study last month said the country could experience more extreme and prolonged heat due to human-driven climate change. Around the world, scientists say the increase in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of burning fossil fuels is driving freak weather events.
The Sun
30-06-2025
- The Sun
Wimbledon sizzles as heatwave breaks opening day record
TENNIS devotees armed themselves with hats, sun cream, mini-fans and a sense of humour for the first day of Wimbledon Monday, as the tournament provisionally recorded its hottest ever opener. 'If we sweat, we sweat -- we know each other well,' laughed Cathy Butcher, 73, arriving with her daughter Helen. The retiree said she had a 'dodgy hip and my daughter is heavily pregnant' but that they would focus on keeping cool and enjoying the day. 'We're hoping for a cool breeze' and some 'great tennis', added her 31-year-old daughter. It was provisionally the hottest start to Wimbledon on record, according to the Met Office. The BBC said temperatures at the All England Club had topped 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit) by mid-afternoon. The previous record was set on June 25, 2001, when the mercury tipped 29.3C. Parts of the UK are currently in the grip of a second heatwave in a month, according to weather experts, with the sweltering temperatures expected to reach 34C in London and southeast England Monday. London start-up boss Sean Tipper said he had made sure to come prepared after failing to heed warnings before. 'Wimbledon when it's really hot is quite sweaty,' he told AFP on a family day out with his wife, mother and aunt. The 31-year-old said they had brought hats and sunglasses plus 'a mini-fan and good hope'. 'Last time we were very hot so this time we've got rosé (wine) in a cooler so we can do a better job,' he joked. The hottest June day ever recorded in the UK was 35.6C on June 28, 1976. But Wimbledon is more used to making headlines for the rain than the heat. - Cooling scarves - Tournament chief executive Sally Bolton said they were 'absolutely ready for it and actually delighted that it's sunny and not wet like it was last year'. For Chilean tennis fan Maria Verdugo, 40, there were pros and cons to enjoying tennis in different weather conditions. 'On balance, though, I prefer the sun, it's more exciting,' she said, clutching a glass of Pimm's with plenty of ice. Under a heat rule to protect players' health, officials will be taking heat stress monitor readings 30 minutes before the start of play and then at 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) and 5:00 pm. The rule allows a 10-minute break to be taken at certain points in a match when the heat stress index is at or above 30.1C. Protocols are also in place to look after ball-boys and ball-girls on court who have access to cooling scarves. Some visitors admitted they were wilting in the heat. 'It's horrible, unbearable,' said retiree Linden Barnett after an hour watching Italy's Fabio Fognini play Spain's Carlos Alcaraz on centre court. 'You can't sit in it, we have to keep coming out to cool down,' she said, adding that the players 'must be feeling it'. 'I need a long cold drink, preferably with gin in it, at least then I'd forget how uncomfortable I am,' added youth worker Mel Megson, shielding herself from the relentless sunshine under some shrubbery. 'Some rain would be good -- you'd find me dancing in it,' she added. Despite the scorching heat, hundreds of hardy tennis fans without pre-booked tickets stuck it out in the queue to get in all day. 'We've been waiting since 9:00 am just with a bit of shade and somesun screen,' said Sharon Rivera, 48, from Puerto Rico at around 6:00 pm. 'It's been too much, but I'm relieved to finally be near to the end of the line,' she said.
