In May, the UK experienced its warmest month and spring on record, according to provisional data from the Met Office.
The average temperature for May reached 13.1°C (55.6°F), surpassing the previous record set in 2008 by 1°C. This makes it the warmest May since records began in 1884.
The warmer temperatures were notably influenced by high temperatures in the northern UK and elevated overnight lows.
The meteorological spring, covering March, April, and May, also recorded its highest average temperature ever, at 9.37°C, exceeding the previous record of 9.12°C set in 2017. High overnight temperatures were a significant factor. Eight of the ten warmest springs have occurred this century, including all five of the top ones.
Despite high temperatures, the UK experienced its wettest spring since 1986 this year.The Met Office attributes these temperature trends to the changing climate, with recent decades being warmer, wetter, and sunnier compared to the 20th century. Natural variability also plays a role.
Globally, record temperatures have continued for 11 months up to April 2024, with April being the hottest ever recorded. Human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation are contributing to rising temperatures and extreme weather events, such as droughts and intense rainfall.
In Scotland, May’s average temperature was particularly high at 12.3°C, surpassing the 2018 record by 1.6°C.
Despite the warmth, the UK also experienced its wettest spring since 1986, with 301.7mm of rain, about 32% more than usual. The wettest spring on record was in 1979, with an average of 327.0mm.
The Met Office noted that despite the warmth, the month felt relatively dull due to limited sunshine, and rainfall varied across the country. A climate campaigner from Greenpeace UK emphasized the need for government action in response to these ongoing climate extremes.