August 2025 will be remembered as a month of striking contrasts, with the UK experiencing everything from named storms and heatwaves to drought conditions and thunderstorms.
Provisional statistics from the Met Office confirm that this was not only a remarkable month but also the culmination of the warmest summer on record for the UK, with climate scientists noting that such summers are now 70 times more likely due to human-induced climate change.
National overview
The UK’s mean temperature for August 2025 was provisionally 16.3°C, which is 1.2°C above the long-term average. Maximum temperatures were approximately 1.5 to 2°C above average for much of the country, and sunshine hours were also notably high, with the UK recording 180.7 hours—112% of the long-term average. Rainfall, however, was highly variable, with Scotland receiving 83% of its average rainfall, while England saw just 42%.
The sixth named storm of the year, Storm Floris, arrived on 4 August, bringing strong winds and heavy rain, particularly to northern Scotland. In contrast, heatwave conditions were met in parts of central and eastern England between 11 and 15 August, contributing to the elevated temperatures and sunshine totals seen across the country.
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.”
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Let’s take a closer look at the regional breakdown for August 2025.
Scotland North
Northern Scotland experienced a relatively average August, with an average maximum temperature of 17.6°C and a mean of 14.0°C. Sunshine hours were alightly above average with 132.0 hours, while rainfall was just below average at 114.8 mm. The impact of Storm Floris was particularly felt here, contributing to the higher rainfall totals.
Scotland East
Eastern Scotland fared slightly better in terms of warmth and sunshine, with an average maximum temperature of 19.4°C and a mean of 14.8°C. Sunshine hours reached 178.7, and rainfall was lower than in the north at 58 mm, reflecting the region’s more settled conditions during the latter half of the month.
Scotland West
Western Scotland saw an average maximum temperature of 18.9°C and a mean of 15.1°C. Sunshine hours were 154.7, and rainfall was again higher at 124.9 mm though still just below average, underlining the region’s exposure to Atlantic weather systems and the effects of Storm Floris.
READ MORE: A look back at the 2024/25 storm season
England East and North East
This region experienced some of the warmest and driest conditions in the UK, with an average maximum temperature of 21.5°C and a mean of 16.8°C. Sunshine hours were high at 184.8, and rainfall was notably low at just 21.1 mm which was just 29% of the long term average. The heatwave in mid-August was particularly pronounced here, contributing to the elevated temperatures and sunshine.
England North West and North Wales
The North West and North Wales recorded an average maximum temperature of 20.5°C and a mean of 16.3°C. Sunshine hours were 178.3, and rainfall was 60.7 mm. While temperatures were above average, rainfall was just half of what would be expected against the long term average.
Midlands
The Midlands stood out for its warmth and sunshine, with an average maximum temperature of 22.8°C and a mean of 17.5°C. Sunshine hours reached 193.5, and rainfall was very low at 22.4 mm. The region was impacted by the heatwave and generally settled conditions, making it one of the driest and sunniest areas in August.
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East Anglia
East Anglia was among the warmest and sunniest regions, with an average maximum temperature of 23.8°C and a mean of 18.2°C. Sunshine hours were just above average at 211.0, and rainfall was just 20.6 mm.
England South West and South Wales
This region experienced an average maximum temperature of 21.7°C and a mean of 17.0°C. Sunshine hours were 206.5, and rainfall was 61.2 mm. While temperatures and sunshine were above average, rainfall was again below average with just 62% of the long term average.
England South East and Central South
The South East and Central South recorded an average maximum temperature of 23.4°C and a mean of 17.8°C. Sunshine hours were the highest in the country at 223.8, and rainfall was 31.3 mm. The region’s weather was dominated by the heatwave, with prolonged dry and sunny spells.
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August 2025 was a month of extremes, with the UK experiencing both stormy and settled weather. The regional statistics reveal a country divided by rainfall and united by warmth and sunshine.
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