UK records fifth warmest July on record

This marks the sixth consecutive month of above-average mean temperatures across the country and the fifth consecutive month within the top ten warmest.

July began with the hottest temperature of the year so far, reaching 35.8°C in Faversham, Kent. However, the weather soon turned unsettled, bringing heavy rain, particularly to Scotland and northwestern areas. Temperatures fluctuated but generally remained above average, with further thundery showers later in the month.

Above average temperatures both day and night

Provisional data shows the UK mean temperature for July was 16.8°C, making it the fifth warmest July since the series began in 1884 and the warmest since 2018. All four UK nations recorded one of their top ten warmest Julys, with Scotland and Northern Ireland ranking sixth, England seventh, and Wales tenth.

Regionally, both Shetland and Orkney have had their warmest July’s since the series began in 1884.

So far this year, only January has seen mean temperatures fall below the long-term-meteorological average.

Temperatures have been above average both day and night, with daily maximum temperatures (the highest temperature recorded during the 24-hour period from 09:00-09:00) 1.7°C above average for the UK and 2.0°C above average for Southern England.

Daily minimum temperatures (the lowest temperature recorded during the 24-hour period from 09:00-09:00) have also been exceptionally high, with the UK, England and Northern Ireland all recording their second highest temperatures since the series began in 1884.

Met Office Scientist Emily Carlisle said, “Provisional Met Office data shows that this July was the fifth warmest on record since 1884. It’s now the sixth consecutive month with above-average mean temperatures in the UK, with only January falling below average this year. Last month (June) was the second warmest on record, and every month since March has ranked among the top ten for UK mean temperatures.

“July also saw below-average rainfall, making it the sixth month this year with drier-than-average conditions across the UK.”

Below average rainfall

UK rainfall for July totalled 74.2mm, which is 90% of the long-term average. There was of course, much regional variation, with Wales the driest of the nations (59%) and Scotland the wettest (99%).

Conditions have been very dry in the southwest of the UK, with Dorset recording just 44% of its average rainfall compared to Kent, which recorded 186% of its average July rainfall.

So far this year, only June has seen above-average rainfall for the UK.

Above average sunshine

Sunshine hours were above average (106%), making July the fifth consecutive month with sunnier-than-usual conditions across the UK. Northern Scotland had significantly more sunshine than average, recording 18% more hours than usual.

A significant marine heatwave continues

The UK continues to experience a significant marine heatwave with sea surface temperatures being around +1.5-2°C higher than the average for this time of year.

Met Office Scientific Lead on Marine Climate, Caroline Rowland, said: “Marine heatwave conditions continue to persist around the UK, particularly in the English Channel and around the south west and south east, with sea surface temperatures around +1.5-2°C higher than the average for this time of year. Sea temperatures in the North Sea have eased over the past few days, reducing the intensity of the marine heatwave, although temperatures remain high for the time of year.”

The map below shows conditions around the UK on 30 July 2025.

How is summer shaping up so far?  

Provisional Met Office data for June and July shows that the UK’s average mean temperature so far sits 1.41°C above the long-term meteorological average for summer. England in particular has been well above average (1.71°C), whilst Wales sits 1.29°C, Scotland 1.02°C and Northern Ireland 1.01°C above their seasonal averages.

Following an extremely dry spring, summer rainfall has remained just below average across the UK, with 61% of the whole summer’s long-term average recorded so far. At this point in the season, you’d expect 66%.

However, regional variation is significant. Areas of eastern Wales and England have received less than 40% of their average summer rainfall whereas in contrast, parts of Cumbria have already received close to their full summer average.

All four UK nations have recorded above average sunshine so far this summer, with Northern Ireland seeing the least and England the most. This continues the theme from spring, which was also exceptionally sunny. 

How do we know when records are broken? 

The answer lies in a Met Office dataset that's been quietly mapping our weather history for around the last two centuries.

Read: How do we know when weather records are broken?