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Met Office: 2022 was UK's warmest year on record

For the first time, average temperatures surpassed 10°C

Gillian Duncan
Gillian Duncan

January 05, 2023

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Last year was the warmest on record in the UK, according to the Met Office.

The average annual temperature topped 10°C for the first time, representing a “notable moment” in the country’s climatological history, the bureau said.

All four UK nations set new records, with England seeing the highest average temperature at 10.94°C, followed by Wales at 10.23°C, Northern Ireland at 9.85°C and Scotland at 8.50°C.

That made the temperature across the country over the 12-month period 10.03°C, beating the previous all-time high of 9.88°C in 2014.

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Data shows 15 of the UK's top 20 warmest years on record have all occurred this century, with the entire top 10 within the past two decades.

Dr Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office's National Climate Information Centre, said: "Although an arbitrary number, the UK surpassing an annual average temperature of 10°C is a notable moment in our climatological history.

"This moment comes as no surprise, since 1884 all the 10 years recording the highest annual temperature have occurred from 2003.

"It is clear from the observational record that human-induced global warming is already impacting the UK's climate."

Scroll through the gallery below to see the UK's heatwave last summer

A woman shelters from the sun on Tower Bridge, in London. AP
A woman shelters from the sun on Tower Bridge, in London. AP
A crowd of people watch the setting sun from a hill in Ealing, west London. AP
A crowd of people watch the setting sun from a hill in Ealing, west London. AP
People enjoy the water fountains in King's Cross, London. EPA
People enjoy the water fountains in King's Cross, London. EPA
The low water level at Pontsticill Reservoir near Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Getty Images
The low water level at Pontsticill Reservoir near Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Getty Images
Dry grass on the football pitches at Hackney Marshes in east London. PA
Dry grass on the football pitches at Hackney Marshes in east London. PA
Aung-Bo, a 21-year-old Asian elephant, is cooled down by a keeper at Chester Zoo. Getty Images
Aung-Bo, a 21-year-old Asian elephant, is cooled down by a keeper at Chester Zoo. Getty Images
People walk on parched grass of The Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. Reuters
People walk on parched grass of The Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. Reuters
A sunbather enjoys the warm weather in London. EPA
A sunbather enjoys the warm weather in London. EPA
Tourists shelter from the sun as they stand outside Buckingham Palace in London. AP
Tourists shelter from the sun as they stand outside Buckingham Palace in London. AP
People enjoy the hot weather as they zorb on the canal at Paddington Basin in London. PA
People enjoy the hot weather as they zorb on the canal at Paddington Basin in London. PA
Horses from Hyde Park stables are surrounded by clouds of dust as they are ridden along a dry bridleway in the London park. Getty Images
Horses from Hyde Park stables are surrounded by clouds of dust as they are ridden along a dry bridleway in the London park. Getty Images
The sun rises above the London skyline on Thursday morning. Reuters
The sun rises above the London skyline on Thursday morning. Reuters
London Fire Brigade dealing with the aftermath of a grass fire in Rainham, east London. PA
London Fire Brigade dealing with the aftermath of a grass fire in Rainham, east London. PA
A water basin is cut off at Colliford Lake, where water levels have dropped to expose previously unseen trees at Cornwall's largest reservoir. AP
A water basin is cut off at Colliford Lake, where water levels have dropped to expose previously unseen trees at Cornwall's largest reservoir. AP
Men cool off by diving into the water at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside. AP
Men cool off by diving into the water at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside. AP
Scorched grass at Greenwich Park in London. AP
Scorched grass at Greenwich Park in London. AP
A dog cools off in a pond at Richmond Park in London. AP
A dog cools off in a pond at Richmond Park in London. AP
Large areas of grass have turned yellow due to the dry conditions in Edinburgh. AP
Large areas of grass have turned yellow due to the dry conditions in Edinburgh. AP
A young man takes a dip in the Peover Eye, a small river that meanders through the Cheshire countryside. Getty Images
A young man takes a dip in the Peover Eye, a small river that meanders through the Cheshire countryside. Getty Images
Dry fairways at Chelsfield Lakes club in Orpington have made for bouncy, unpredictable golfing conditions. Getty Images
Dry fairways at Chelsfield Lakes club in Orpington have made for bouncy, unpredictable golfing conditions. Getty Images

Figures also show that last year was the warmest on record in the 364-year Central England Temperature series, the world's longest-running temperature dataset.

The annual mean CET for 2022 was 11.1°C, beating the previous record of 11.0°C in 2014.

The mercury on July 19 hit more than 40°C for the first time, reaching 40.3°C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

The hot spell in July led to the Met Office issuing a red warning for extreme heat for the first time.

Wales also recorded a new daily maximum temperature record of 37.1°C, while Scotland set a new record of 34.8°C.

A drought was in August declared in much of London and across vast swathes of England and hosepipe bans were implemented.

The extreme measures were brought in after the UK endured the driest first six months of the year since 1976.

Scroll through the gallery below to see warm weather photo archives in the UK

Men cover their heads with newspapers to protect them from the summer sun in 1913. All photos: Getty Images
Men cover their heads with newspapers to protect them from the summer sun in 1913. All photos: Getty Images
Children enjoy their ice creams during a heatwave in 1914, outside Horse Guards Parade in London.
Children enjoy their ice creams during a heatwave in 1914, outside Horse Guards Parade in London.
London schoolboys bathe in the fountain at Trafalgar Square in 1919.
London schoolboys bathe in the fountain at Trafalgar Square in 1919.
A group of friends cool off in Mill Weir, Berkshire, during a heatwave in 1926.
A group of friends cool off in Mill Weir, Berkshire, during a heatwave in 1926.
Workers at a hat manufacturers in Luton, in 1928, carrying piles of men's straw hats, which were in demand due to a heatwave.
Workers at a hat manufacturers in Luton, in 1928, carrying piles of men's straw hats, which were in demand due to a heatwave.
A girl prepares to take the plunge in Brighton in 1929.
A girl prepares to take the plunge in Brighton in 1929.
Two divers jump off the Embankment into the River Thames in London, in 1934.
Two divers jump off the Embankment into the River Thames in London, in 1934.
Typists cool off by working on a Cardiff roof-top in 1935.
Typists cool off by working on a Cardiff roof-top in 1935.
A bus driver and conductor stop for a water break in London in 1935.
A bus driver and conductor stop for a water break in London in 1935.
A passer by mops his brow as he reads a thermometer in Smithfield Market, London, in 1938.
A passer by mops his brow as he reads a thermometer in Smithfield Market, London, in 1938.
Schoolgirls wear newspaper hats to protect them from the sun while they watch the Wimbledon tennis championships during a heatwave in 1953.
Schoolgirls wear newspaper hats to protect them from the sun while they watch the Wimbledon tennis championships during a heatwave in 1953.
An ambulance man on duty at the Holborn Oasis swimming pool in London, in 1964.
An ambulance man on duty at the Holborn Oasis swimming pool in London, in 1964.
Holiday makers in Clacton-on-Sea relax in the heat by lying on top of their parked cars in 1967.
Holiday makers in Clacton-on-Sea relax in the heat by lying on top of their parked cars in 1967.
A Londoner sunbathing in Kensington Gardens with a knotted handkerchief protecting his head from the sunshine in 1976.
A Londoner sunbathing in Kensington Gardens with a knotted handkerchief protecting his head from the sunshine in 1976.
Two London policemen take the weight off their feet during a May heatwave in 1976.
Two London policemen take the weight off their feet during a May heatwave in 1976.
City office workers stretch out during a hot summer lunchtime in Trinity Square in London, in 1993.
City office workers stretch out during a hot summer lunchtime in Trinity Square in London, in 1993.
A student cools off in the fountains of Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, in 2009.
A student cools off in the fountains of Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, in 2009.
Two girls make their way down the Regent's Canal in London in 2014.
Two girls make their way down the Regent's Canal in London in 2014.
A couple relax on deckchairs in the hot weather in Hyde Park, London, in 2014.
A couple relax on deckchairs in the hot weather in Hyde Park, London, in 2014.
A packed Brighton beach during a heatwave in 2020.
A packed Brighton beach during a heatwave in 2020.

The UK has endured a cold snap in recent weeks, recording the lowest temperatures since 2010, dropping as low as –17.3°C at Braemar on December 13 following a spell of cool northerly air.

Up to 27 December, the mean temperature for the UK was 2.4°C, which is 1.8°C below the average for the month.

However, January has been one of the warmest in years across Europe.

Temperatures are forecast to range between 2°C to 5°C above normal in France and Germany until January 17, with heating demand in Europe below the 10-year average, according to Maxar and the Weather Company.

The UK is likely to see the mild conditions persist this month, the Met Office said.

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