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UK ‘on course’ to record warmest summer for second year in a row
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Environment & Climate

UK ‘on course’ to record warmest summer for second year in a row

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • The UK is likely to experience its warmest summer on record for the second consecutive year, according to the Met Office.
  • The current average temperature for the summer, as of August 10, has already surpassed the record set in 2022.
  • Scientists attribute the extreme weather, including heatwaves and droughts, to climate change, which is making such events more frequent and intense.

Britain is on track to record its warmest summer for the second year in a row, the UK's Met Office weather agency announced Tuesday. The country is also bracing for its fifth heatwave of the season.

The UK is on course to record its warmest summer on record for mean temperature, with only average conditions needed for the remainder of August to surpass the record set only last year.

— Met OfficeThe Met Office issued a statement detailing the current summer's temperature trends and its likelihood of breaking previous records.

"The UK is on course to record its warmest summer on record for mean temperature, with only average conditions needed for the remainder of August to surpass the record set only last year," the Met Office stated. Last year, Britain experienced its hottest summer on record with a mean temperature of 16.10C, exceeding the previous record of 15.76C from 2018. As of August 10, the average temperature for the current summer stood at 16.48C.

Met Office senior scientist Mike Kendon noted the increasing likelihood of another record-breaking summer. "Another record-breaking summer now looks increasingly likely for the UK, following the second-warmest June, and second-warmest July on record and yet another heatwave imminent," he said. Kendon emphasized the significance of these statistics, stating, "These statistics are a clear reminder, if one were needed, of the stark changes that we are seeing in the UK’s climate."

Another record-breaking summer now looks increasingly likely for the UK, following the second-warmest June, and second-warmest July on record and yet another heatwave imminent.

— Mike Kendon, Met senior scientistMike Kendon commented on the ongoing weather patterns and the probability of setting a new record for the warmest summer.

High temperatures and low rainfall have led to drought conditions in large parts of England and all of Wales. Both regions experienced their driest July on record this year. Scientists link these extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and droughts, to climate change, which is intensifying them and causing records to be broken more frequently. Previous heatwaves and record temperatures in May and June caused disruptions to schools, transport, and hospitals, and were associated with an estimated 2,877 excess deaths in England.

These statistics are a clear reminder, if one were needed, of the stark changes that we are seeing in the UK’s climate.

— Mike Kendon, Met senior scientistMike Kendon highlighted the broader implications of the current weather conditions for the UK's climate.
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Originally published by Jamaica Observer. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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