With Britain in the midst of an arctic blast, it might be tricky to believe.
But the Met Office has revealed that 2024 was provisionally the fourth hottest year on record for the UK.
Average temperatures last year hit a balmy 9.78°C, which is 0.64°C above the 1991-2020 average.
This means 2024 follows 2022, 2023, and 2014 as the fourth warmest year for the UK.
According to the Met Office, all top 10 warmest years have been since the year 2000, with five in the most recent decade, 2015-2024.
What’s more, every single year of the most recent decade has been warmer than the 1991-2020 long-term average.
‘With 2024 joining the top ten warmest years for the UK’s annual temperature series, once again this is a clear illustration that our climate is changing, right now, and we continue to head up this warming curve,’ said Met Office Senior Scientist, Mike Kendon.
‘The fact that all ten of the most recent years have been above the 1991-2020 average demonstrates that this recent period, entirely within my own adult lifetime, is a stark reminder of just how fast our climate is changing.’
With Britain in the midst of an arctic blast, it might be tricky to believe. But the Met Office has revealed that 2024 was provisionally the fourth hottest year on record for the UK
Christmas Day was extremely mild. Dyce, Aberdeen enjoyed balmy temperatures of 14.2°C on December 25, with minimum temperatures in northern Scotland holding up above 10°C
Of the 12 months of the year, eight saw temperatures above average, including the warmest May on record, second warmest February, and fifth warmest December.
On 28 January, Achfary, Sutherland recorded a staggering temperature of 19.9°C – a UK January record.
Christmas Day was also extremely mild.
Dyce, Aberdeen enjoyed balmy temperatures of 14.2°C on December 25, with minimum temperatures in northern Scotland holding up above 10°C.
‘2024 has been another year with minimum temperatures well above average,’ Mr Kendon said.
‘We have experienced some particularly mild nights and far fewer frosts than normal, particularly in February and December.’
In terms of rainfall, 2024 was a relatively wet year, with the UK recording 1,242mm – 107 per cent of the average.
Parts of central southern England bore the brunt of this wet weather, with Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire each recording their second-wettest year in records from 1836.
Last year included the warmest May on record, second warmest February, and fifth warmest December
Meanwhile, 2024 was a rather dull year with just 1,274 hours of sunshine – 91 per cent of the average.
Several notable storms also hit Britain last year, bringing flooding, fallen trees, power outages, transport disruption, and a number of fatalities with them.
Mr Kendon hope the news will highlight just how fast our climate is changing.
‘We have not had a top ten coldest year in the UK since 1963,’ he said.
‘The UK receives weather influences from all points of the compass, and we are all familiar with just how variable our weather can often be from one day to the next.
‘However, the long-term pattern in the observations is undeniable: the global climate is warming and there is clear evidence of this in the UK’s own temperature series.
‘We are heading outside the envelope of historical observations.’
The news comes shortly after the Copernicus Climate Change Service revealed that 2024 is ‘effectively certain’ to be the hottest year ever.
‘We can now confirm with virtual certainty that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first calendar year above 1.5°C,’ said Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of C3S.
‘This does not mean that the Paris Agreement has been breached, but it does mean ambitious climate action is more urgent than ever.’