Dry soils and warm seas pushed UK to hottest summer on record
Wildfire breaks out in London amid latest heatwave warning
The UK officially experienced its hottest summer on record in 2025, with a mean temperature of 16.10C between 1 June and 31 August.
This new record surpasses the previous high of 15.76C set in 2018, making it the warmest summer since records began.
The persistent warmth, driven by high-pressure systems, warm seas, and dry spring soils, led to back-to-back heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires across the country.
The Met Office attributes the increasing baseline temperatures to climate change, projecting that future UK summers will become even hotter and drier.
September is forecast to bring unsettled and often rainy conditions.