Record-breaking temperatures show impact of climate change

Last year saw a series of new high temperatures as climate change exerts “an increasing impact” on the UK, the Met Office has said.

The latest annual State of the UK Climate review, compiled by the meteorological experts, shows how the country continues to warm, with 2019’s average temperature 1.1C above long-term 1961-1990 levels.

The most recent decade has been 0.9C warmer across the UK than the 1961-1990 average, the report said.

Last year was most notable for breaking records, with the UK recording its hottest temperature ever as the mercury soared to 38.7C (101.7F) at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens on July 25.

That was not the only temperature high seen in 2019, with a new winter record of 21.2C (70.2F) set on February 26, at Kew Gardens in London, the first time 20C has been reached in the UK in a winter month.

There was also a new December record of 18.7C (65.7F)on February 28 in Achfary, Sutherland.

A new record for the mildest daily minimum temperature for February was set when temperatures did not dip below 13.9C (57F) in Achnagart, in the Highlands, on the 23rd.

No cold temperature records were set last year, the report said.

The changing climate is also bringing other extremes, with flooding hitting parts of Lincolnshire in mid-June, parts of the Pennines and northern England in late July, and South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire in November 2019.