UK weather: Britain Swelters Through Fifth Warmest July on Record
UK weather watchers have just witnessed history in the making. July 2025 has officially entered the books as the fifth warmest July on record, according to fresh data from the Met Office.
The numbers are striking. A nationwide average temperature of 16.8°C capped off a blistering month, trailing just behind the infamous July of 2006, which holds the top spot at 17.8°C. Not far behind were 2018 (17.2°C), 1983 (17.1°C), and 2013 (17.0°C).
The heat didn’t let up for a second. From day one, the UK was under pressure. Faversham in Kent hit a searing 35.8°C on the 1st of July — the hottest day of the year so far.
Two distinct heatwaves followed in the first half of the month, turning parks into sunbathing spots and fans into household heroes.
This marks the sixth month in a row with above-average temperatures. And yes, June didn’t disappoint either, the hottest June ever for England, and the second warmest for the UK as a whole.
Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle noted: “It’s now the sixth consecutive month with above-average mean temperatures in the UK, with only January falling below average this year.
June was the second warmest on record, and every month since March has ranked among the top 10 for UK mean temperatures.”
Unsurprisingly, all four nations in the UK recorded one of their top ten warmest Julys. Scotland and Northern Ireland had their sixth warmest, England ranked seventh, and Wales hit its tenth.
On average, 74.2 mm of rain fell in July, which is 90% of the long-term monthly average. But that’s just part of the story. Kent received 86% more rain than usual, leaving it drenched. Meanwhile, Dorset was parched, seeing just under half its typical rainfall.
Despite this, overall rainfall for the year is low. Between January and July, the UK only received 450.5mm, the driest start to the year since 1929. England’s figures are especially telling, clocking in at 331.9mm, just slightly more than 2022.
“July also saw below-average rainfall, making it the sixth month this year with drier-than-average conditions across the UK,” Carlisle added.
The consequences are already being felt. Hosepipe bans were rolled out across the country, enforced by South East Water, Southern Water, Thames Water, and Yorkshire Water.
These restrictions followed what had already been an alarmingly dry spring, England’s second driest on record, and the UK’s sixth driest overall.
By the end of July, the UK had received just 61% of its expected summer rainfall. Some areas in eastern Wales and England struggled even more, seeing less than 40% of their seasonal average. Cumbria, on the other hand, was one of the few regions to stay on track.
This summer’s extremes are part of a growing trend, and if current patterns continue, the country may be heading into uncharted territory for the second half of the year.
For now, the sunshine persists – and so does the pressure on water supplies and weather records. Stay tuned. The skies might still have more surprises in store.
