August 2025 was another warm month for UK, Ireland W Europe as well as many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Not everywhere was warm, however, it was cool in places such as the Baltic states, parts of Kazakhstan, Mongolia as well as Eastern US.
3rd warmest August on record globally behind 2023 and 2024 with significant heatwaves.
Global temp & precip anomaly for August 2025
Europe
While variable with stormy start and unsettled end, it was warm, dry and dominated by high pressure for much of W Europe, particularly UK and France.
MET OFFICE: August, a month of contrasts
Excerpt
August delivered a mix of weather, with a named storm, a heatwave, showers, thunderstorms, and drought conditions.
The sixth named storm of the year, Storm Floris, arrived on 4 August, bringing strong winds and heavy rain, particularly to northern Scotland.
Heatwave conditions were met in parts of central and eastern England between 11 and 15 August, contributing to a month of elevated temperatures.
Rainfall was variable, with Scotland recording 83% of its average rainfall compared to England at 42%.
Mean temperatures across the UK were provisionally 16.3°C, 1.2°C above average, with maximum temperatures approximately 1.5 to 2°C above average for much of the country.
Sunshine hours were also above average, with the UK overall provisionally recording 180.7.3 hours, 112% of the long-term average.
June-August 2025
A highly anticyclonic summer for Western Europe and Balkans with some of the most anomalous positives found anywhere…
A very warm summer for much of the Northern Hemisphere land mass with many regions witnessing warmest or one of the warmest on record.
Global temp anomaly
Note a very wet summer for a vast area of Russia extending from Baltic to Northern Japan even Alaska. As well as central US, India, SE Asia, E China with mix over Equatorial Africa. Very dry Canada, much of Europe and Brazil away from Rio Grande Do Sul.
Europe temp anomaly
3rd Warmest Summer For France
Tweet from Extreme Meteo
SUMMER BALANCE 2025 IN FRANCE: (data via Météo France and Météo France engineers – more details available on Météo France’s climate summaries) – The meteorological summer 2025 (June – July – August) is over. It is the 3rd warmest summer ever recorded in France since 1900, behind 2003 and 2022. The summer season was marked by two heatwaves (from June 19 to July 4 and from August 8 to 18) on a national scale, and unprecedented large-scale fires. Reminder of respective thermal anomalies: – June: +3.3°C – July: +0.9°C – August: +1.4°C Anomaly of +1.9°C over the summer quarter The June-July heatwave was the 3rd+longest, the 3rd+most intense, and the 5th+most severe. The August heatwave, for its part, was the 10th+longest, the 9th+most intense, and the 6th+most severe. For comparison, the cumulative severity of the 2 heatwaves of summer 2025 equals the cumulative severity of the 3 heatwaves of summer 2022. Moreover, with two heat episodes, the country experienced 27 days in heatwave conditions. Summer 2025 ranks second for the number of heatwave days, after summer 2022 (33 days in three episodes). – The 35 °C threshold was reached over more than 80 % of the territory during the summer and the 40 °C threshold over more than 20 %, a remarkable area, behind the summers of 2019 and 2003, but equivalent to summer 2022. While it was extremely rare in the 20th century in France, the 40 °C threshold has been crossed every year in recent years. – Summer 2025 was not very rainy (-15 %), particularly in the southern half where the deficit sometimes reaches 50 %. Thus, the soils remained drier than normal across the entire territory this summer, despite some temporary respites. It should be noted that summer rainfall is slightly in excess in the Grand-Est and Burgundy-Franche-Comté (+ 10 %), close to normal in the Provence-Alpes region. Everywhere else, it is a more or less significant deficit that must be regretted. – The summer was also marked by violent fires. 2025 saw 2 consecutive months (from June 19 to August 18) during which the Forest Weather always displayed at least one department in orange (level 3/4 of high danger). 52 departments were affected by at least one day of orange Forest Weather (compared to 28 in 2023 and 14 in 2024). 2025 recorded 36,000 hectares of burned areas (for an average of about 13,000 hectares, with a peak at 64,000 hectares in 2022 – provisional ONF data as of September 1, 2025). – The sun was generous, especially in the northern half. The excess reaches 10 % over the entire season. (months of June and August generous in sunshine compensating for a somewhat weak July month) In conclusion, summer 2025 fits perfectly into the spiral of very hot and dry summers that we have seen multiplying for more than 10 years. Multiplication of heatwaves and heat spells, multiplication of drought states with acceleration of the water cycle. Periods of humidity of several months no longer guarantee protection from drought when summers arrive.
MET OFFICE: Summer 2025 is the warmest on record for the UK
Official Press Release
Provisional Met Office statistics confirm that summer 2025 is officially the warmest summer on record for the UK.
Analysis by Met Office climate scientists has also shown that a summer as hot or hotter than 2025 is now 70 times more likely than it would be in a ‘natural’ climate with no human caused greenhouse gas emissions.
The UK’s mean temperature from 1 June to 31 August stands at 16.10°C, which is 1.51°C above the long-term meteorological average. This surpasses the previous record of 15.76°C, set in 2018, and pushes the summer of 1976 out of the top five warmest summers in a series dating back to 1884.
Met Office scientist Dr Emily Carlisle said: “Provisional Met Office statistics show that summer 2025 is officially the warmest on record with a mean temperature of 16.10°C, surpassing the previous record of 15.76°C set in 2018.
“The persistent warmth this year has been driven by a combination of factors including the domination of high-pressure systems, unusually warm seas around the UK and the dry spring soils. These conditions have created an environment where heat builds quickly and lingers, with both maximum and minimum temperatures considerably above average.”
1976, which had a mean temperature of 15.70°C, has now dropped out of the top five warmest summers since records began in 1884, leaving all five warmest summers having occurred since 2000.
The five warmest UK summers on record are now:
- 2025: 16.10°C
- 2018: 15.76°C
- 2006: 15.75°C
- 2003: 15.74°C
- 2022: 15.71°C
Consistently above-average temperatures
June and July both delivered consistently above-average temperatures. England recorded its warmest June on record, while Wales and the UK overall saw their third and second warmest Junes respectively. July continued the trend, making it the UK’s fifth warmest July on record.
Four heatwaves but no extreme peaks
Summer 2025 has seen four heatwaves, each relatively short-lived and interspersed with near-average conditions. The highest temperature recorded was 35.8°C in Faversham, Kent. This is just below the peak temperature of 35.9°C recorded in 1976 and also below the UK’s all-time high of 40.3°C, set in July 2022.
How does 1976 compare?
The summer of 1976 remains iconic, with 16 days exceeding 32°C, compared to nine days in 2025. The persistence of the 1976 heatwave means that 1976 still holds the record for the highest average summer maximum temperature, while the persistent warmth of 2025 means it holds the record for mean temperature.
Read more about UK temperature extremes and records most affected by climate change
The below map shows the years with the highest UK mean summer temperature by area from 1884 to 2025.
Impact of climate change on 2025 record-breaking summer
Rapid analysis by Met Office climate scientists using peer-reviewed methods described in this technical report has shown that a summer temperature as high as 2025 has been made around 70 times more likely because of human induced climate change.
Head of climate attribution at the Met Office, Dr Mark McCarthy, said: “Our analysis shows that the summer of 2025 has been made much more likely because of the greenhouse gases humans have released since the industrial revolution. In a natural climate, we could expect to see a summer like 2025 with an approximate return period of around 340 years, while in the current climate we could expect to see these sorts of summers roughly 1 in every 5 years.
“Another interesting finding from our analysis is the context of this summer against other record-breaking summers, like that of 1976. Our analysis suggests that while 2025 has set a new record, we could plausibly experience much hotter summers in our current and near-future climate and shows how what would have been seen as extremes in the past are becoming more common in our changing climate”
An attribution study by Met Office scientists published in 2019 looking at the then record-breaking summer of 2018 estimated that record had a statistical return period of approximately 8-9 years. The summer of 2025 has broken that record in 7 years, consistent with these previous findings.
The mean summer temperature between 1991 and 2020, was 14.59°C, more than 0.8°C warmer than the 1961–1990 average. Climate projections indicate that UK summers will continue to become hotter, a trend already evident.
Climate change is reshaping our understanding of what constitutes a record-breaking summer. As baseline temperatures steadily rise, so too do peak temperatures and the frequency of warm spells. What was once considered exceptional is increasingly becoming typical. Against this elevated climate backdrop, higher temperatures are no longer anomalies, they’re becoming the new normal.
Find out more about the effects of climate change on UK weather events.
Below-average, but variable rainfall
Rainfall this summer is below average, with provisionally just 84% of the long-term seasonal average recorded. However, rainfall has varied significantly across the UK with central, southern and eastern parts of England and Wales especially dry, whilst north-western parts of the UK, especially Scotland, have been much wetter.
England is the driest of the UK nations, and Scotland the wettest. This follows England’s driest spring in more than 100 years and the driest January–July period since 1929.
Above-average sunshine
Sunshine levels have been above average across the UK (110%), away from Northern Ireland (93%).
Why has it been so persistently warm?
Several factors have contributed to the persistent warmth:
- High-pressure has dominated our weather this summer keeping conditions stable.
- A significant marine heatwave around the UK has enhanced air temperatures.
- Climate change continues to play a role, with the UK warming at a rate of approximately 0.25°C per decade.
Recent years reflect this trend: 2025, 2023, 2022, and 2018 all rank among the UK’s top ten warmest summers since records began in 1884.
| Provisional Summer 2025 stats | Mean temp (°C) | Rainfall (mm/%) | Sunshine (hours/ %) | |||
| Actual | 91/20 anom | Actual | 91/20 anom | Actual | 91/20 anom | |
| UK | 16.10 | 1.51 | 212.1 | 84 | 556.3 | 110 |
| England | 17.42 | 1.69 | 142.1 | 69 | 640.0 | 113 |
| Wales | 16.06 | 1.43 | 239.5 | 79 | 558.1 | 108 |
| Scotland | 14.05 | 1.27 | 314.8 | 99 | 444.4 | 105 |
| Northern Ireland | 15.35 | 1.29 | 250.6 | 93 | 394.0 | 93 |
UK Highlights/Stats
August 2025 Monthly Weather Report
Highest Maximum 33.9°C on 12th at Westonzoyland (Somerset, 3mAMSL)
Lowest Maximum 12.6°C on 22nd at Fair Isle (Shetland, 57mAMSL)
Highest Minimum 20.4°C on 13th at Hazelrigg (Lancashire, 95mAMSL)
Lowest Minimum 1.2°C on 23rd at Tomintoul No 6 (Banffshire, 320mAMSL)
Lowest Grass
Minimum -3.3°C on 21st at Katesbridge (Down, 91mAMSL)
Most Rainfall 81.6mm on 27th at Resolven S Wks (West Glamorgan, 25mAMSL)
Most Sunshine 14.0hr on 2nd at Morecambe No 2 (Lancashire, 7mAMSL)
Highest Gust 71Kt 82mph on 4th at Wick Airport (Caithness, 36mAMSL)
Highest Gust
(mountain*) 108Kt 124mph on 4th at Cairngorm Summit (Inverness-shire, 1237mAMSL)
Greatest Snow
Depth at 0900
UTC
No non-zero values.
My August 2025 Stats
SUMMER 2025 STATS
2025 was wetter than 2024 but drier than 2023.
July 2025 was first month to record an average over 16.0°C as well as most 20°C Days (20) and consecutive days at/above 20°C (13).
July also recorded the warmest day (28.5°C) and night (16.4°C) in my record.
August was quite something. Driest of any summer month on record (35.96mm), observed the warmest monthly minimum on record (8.1°C), 1st heatwave (3 days at/above 25°C) since Sep 2023 as well as highest & lowest Aug pressure and strongest wind gust combined with lowest pressure for any summer month. The 80.6 kph was also 3rd strongest on record!
Summer 2025 produced 7 days above 25°C (NONE in 2024) (5 in 2023)
‘Hottest Summer On Record For UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, China, Japan & Korea’s
Global Highlight’s For August 2025
Hottest August day since 2003 for MANY central/northern UK sites.
Highest temperature in Europe 2025 by country
| Country | Temperature | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 43.8 °C (110.8 °F) | 26 July | Gjirokastra |
 Austria | 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) | 26 June | Feistritz ob Bleiburg |
 Belgium | 38.3 °C (100.9 °F)[143] | 2 July | Diepenbeek |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | 41.0 °C (105.8 °F) | 3 July | Mostar |
 Bulgaria | 43.5 °C (110.3 °F) | 26 July | Montana |
 Croatia | 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) | 26 June | Slavonski Brod |
 Czechia | 37.4 °C (99.3 °F)[144] | 2 July | Husinec |
 Denmark | 34.0 °C (93.2 °F)[145] | 2 July | Holbæk |
 France | 43.4 °C (110.1 °F)[146] | 10 August | Argeliers |
 Germany | 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) | 2 July | Andernach |
 Greece | 44.9 °C (112.8 °F) | 22 July | Tragana |
 Hungary | 41.3 °C (106.3 °F) | 22 July | Sarkad |
 Iceland | 29.8 °C (85.6 °F) | 16 August | Egilsstaðaflugvöllur |
 Ireland | 31.1 °C (88.0 °F) | 12 July | Mountdillon |
 Italy | 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) | 22 July | Paternò |
 Jersey | 33.4 °C (92.1 °F) | 30 June | Jersey |
 Lithuania | 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) | 3 July | Druskininkai |
 Luxembourg | 36.0 °C (96.8 °F)[147] | 2 July | Luxembourg Airport |
 Netherlands | 39.0 °C (102.2 °F)[148] | 2 July | Maastricht |
 North Macedonia | 42.7 °C (108.9 °F) | 26 July | Kavadarci |
 Norway | 34.9 °C (94.8 °F)[149] | 17 July | Frosta, Trøndelag |
 Poland | 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) | 3 July | Kozienice |
 Portugal | 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) | 29 June | Mora |
 Romania | 43.4 °C (110.1 °F)[150] | 26 July | Calafat |
 Serbia | 44.0 °C (111.2 °F) | 26 July | Kruševac |
 Slovakia | 38.7 °C (101.7 °F)[151] | 3 July | Slovenský Grob |
 Slovenia | 38.4 °C (101.1 °F) | 26 June | Črnomelj |
 Spain | 46.0 °C (114.8 °F) | 28 June | El Granado |
 Sweden | 33.4 °C (92.1 °F)[152] | 2 July | Oskarshamn |
 Switzerland | 36.3 °C (97.3 °F)[153] | 11 August | Biasca |
 Turkey | 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) | 26 June | Edirne |
 United Kingdom | 35.8 °C (96.4 °F) | 1 July | Faversham |
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