The weather has been a hot topic of conversation this spring, and for good reason. From record-breaking sunshine hours to long-stretches of high temperatures and very low rainfall, it’s been a season that’s got everyone talking – and the records aren’t done yet.
March saw a record-breaking month for sunshine, with temperatures above average and rainfall well below. April 2025 was the sunniest April on record for the UK and again, temperatures were above average and rainfall well below almost everywhere.
With provisional Met Office data from 1 March to 29 May 2025, let’s take a look at how things are shaping up for spring so far.
Sunshine records smashed
It’s been a very sunny spring, and the numbers prove it.
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Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the UK have already recorded their sunniest spring since records began, beating the previous record set in 2020.
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England has currently had its second sunniest spring on record so far.
A warm season for many
It hasn’t just been sunny, it’s been warm too.
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The UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to have one of their warmest springs since this series began in 1884, based on average mean temperatures, and could well break their respective records once final provisional figures are in.
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England and Wales are currently seeing their second warmest spring, though there is time for these to shift in the coming days.
With a few days still to go, it’s important to remember that these rankings could still change. It’s worth noting that eight of the ten warmest UK springs up until 2024 have occurred since the year 2000, a sign of our changing climate.
And when it comes to daytime temperatures, the UK, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are all seeing their highest spring daytime temperatures on record so far. Wales is just behind, currently sitting in second place.
A heatwave in the sea too
It’s not just on land that we’ve been seeing unusual warmth, the waters around the UK have also felt the effects, experiencing a marine heatwave. Sea surface temperatures have been at record highs for April and May, with some areas as much as 4°C warmer than usual.
What about Rain?
Perhaps the most talked about statistic is rainfall. And this is because by mid-May, the UK was experiencing its driest spring in over 100 years. The exceptional conditions have led some areas to declare drought status, with significant impacts on agriculture and water resources across parts of the UK. But, more recent wet and unsettled weather has started to tip the balance a little.
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At the time of writing, the UK has had one of its driest springs on record, though not the driest, with further rain likely for some this weekend which will top up totals further.
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England and Wales have also been particularly dry, though other UK nations have now moved out of their top 10 driest.
With more rain in the forecast over the final weekend of May, it’s still possible that the rankings could shift.
Met Office Scientist Emily Carlisle said: “It’s rare to see sunshine, temperature, and rainfall all so close to record-breaking levels at the same time. Sunshine records have already fallen for much of the UK, and now we’re watching closely to see if the temperature records will follow. But, there are still two days of data left to include and with an unsettled weekend ahead, it really is up-to-the wire with this season’s statistics.”
We’ll bring you the full, provisional data on Monday 2 June.
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.
What’s been behind the weather?
The dominant factor behind this unusual spring has been the persistent high-pressure systems, often originating from the Azores or mainland Europe. These systems have lingered over the UK since late February until the last week or so, blocking the usual flow of Atlantic weather fronts and allowing high pressure to dominate.
