The UK’s hottest day of 2022 thus far was recorded at Heathrow with 27.5°C as we speak (17 Might 2022), resulting in curiosity in how usually we report these sorts of temperatures within the UK throughout Might. Mike Kendon, from the Met Workplace Nationwide Local weather Info Centre, places this newest temperature recording into context.
As we get nearer to summer season, we regularly see extra pleasure about greater temperatures and the possibility of heatwaves. Though we’re a method off an official heatwave, there was curiosity within the UK reaching mid-20°C in Might.
As we speak’s highest temperatures have been confined to the southeast of England, with solely 15 stations recording 25°C or above. The temperature of 27.5°C at Heathrow is round 10°C greater than the Might 1991-2020 long-term common day by day most temperature however however falls far in need of the UK’s all-time Might report of 32.8°C.
The Met Workplace observational report exhibits that 25°C will not be a very uncommon temperature for this time of 12 months.
particular person station information for the primary recording of 25°C or above, apparently, regardless of giant annual variability, there’s a clear shift within the date when 25°C or greater is first occurring within the UK transferring earlier within the calendar. Primarily based on the interval 1961-1990, the common date is nineteen Might in comparison with 6 Might for the interval 1991-2020. Which means that the primary day of the 12 months when 25°C or greater is recorded within the UK has moved ahead by nearly a fortnight between the 2 30-year intervals.
The earliest recognized incidence of temperatures in extra of 25°C within the calendar 12 months is 29 March with recordings in 1965 and 1968.
Inevitably with local weather change in everybody’s thoughts, there’s usually the query of if greater temperatures are due to human affect. The statistics above replicate most temperatures at particular places. By averaging the temperature throughout the entire of the UK we will additionally get a measure of widespread heat days, for instance by measuring how usually the UK common is above 20°C at the moment of 12 months.[1]
Within the 1961-1990 averaging interval there have been 35 Might days with a UK area-average day by day most temperature of 20°C or above. Within the 1991-2020 averaging interval there have been 76 Might days with a UK area-average day by day max temperature of 20°C or above. Because of this the variety of heat days in Might has greater than doubled in 30 years by this measure.
When analyzing the hyperlink to local weather change you will need to not solely have a look at extremes although. The UK common imply temperature for Might has elevated from 9.8°C to 10.6°C in 30 years (1961-1990 in comparison with 1991-2020). As our local weather warms, we anticipate to see a corresponding enhance within the variety of sizzling days.
[1] Knowledge: HadUK-Grid
