UK weather: Country set for one of the hottest summers on record, Met Office says

The UK is on track for one of its hottest summers on record, the Met Office has said.

With two weeks remaining in the meteorological summer, there is still time for changes in the weather, but the season's persistent warmth and consistent above-average temperatures suggest it could be one of the country's warmest summers since records began in 1884.

Provisional figures from the Met Office show that the UK's average temperature from 1 June to 17 August was 16.2C, some 1.6C above the average temperature.

Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle said: "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.

"What's striking is the consistency of the warmth. June and July were both well above average and even outside of heatwaves, temperatures have remained on the warmer side."

The persistent warmth is driven by a combination of factors, including dry ground from spring, high-pressure systems, and unusually warm seas around the UK, she said.

The scientist added: "These conditions have created an environment where heat builds quickly and lingers.

"While we haven't seen record-breaking highs - 35.8C is the peak so far this year - the overall trend in consistently above-average temperatures is what matters."

The Met Office has said that climate change is contributing to rising summer temperatures, with the UK experiencing an average warming of about 0.25C per decade.

The UK's warmest summer on record is 2018, followed by 2006, 2003, 2022 and 1976.

The Met Office said both June and July delivered consistently above-average temperatures, with England experiencing its hottest June on record.

There have been four heatwaves so far this summer. And the Met Office said that while that was unusual, each has been short-lived and interspersed with near-average conditions.

And the hottest day of the year, at 35.8C in Faversham, Kent, is well below the all-time high for the UK of 40.3C in 2022.

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East and West Midlands in drought

The East and West Midlands were officially in drought in mid-July, after the driest start to a year since 1976.

Eight million people faced water use restrictions, with many more potentially affected under a worst-case scenario outlined by the Environment Agency.

The two regions joined the North West of England and Yorkshire, which had been under drought status for several weeks.

Reservoir and river levels in the Midlands were well below normal, with no substantial rain in the forecast, government experts, water companies and the Met Office said.

Nationally, reservoirs were on average only 76% full, falling below the levels seen during the severe drought of 2022.

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