Annual climate stocktake shows weather records and extremes now the norm in UK
10 months ago
- #extreme weather
- #UK climate
- #climate change
- Record-breaking and extreme weather has become increasingly common in the UK due to climate change.
- The UK's climate has warmed at a rate of approximately 0.25°C per decade since the 1980s.
- The last three years have been among the UK's top five warmest on record, with 2024 being the fourth warmest.
- The frequency of days with temperatures 5°C above the 1961-1990 average has doubled in the most recent decade (2015-2024).
- The UK's winter half-year (October to March) is now 16% wetter than the 1961-1990 average.
- Floods and storms in 2024 caused widespread disruption, with some areas experiencing extreme rainfall and flooding.
- Sea levels around the UK are rising faster than the global average, increasing the risk of coastal flooding.
- Earlier springs and changes in seasonal activity in plants and animals are noticeable effects of climate change in the UK.