In a first, UK witnesses average annual temperature above 10 degrees Celsius in 2022. See details

If the Met Office is to be believed, the UK witnessed its warmest year in 2022 as per the records of the department.

According to the national weather service, the average annual temperature was more than 10 degrees Celsius in 2022. This has happened for the first time, the Met Office has confirmed.

Across the 12 months, the mean temperature was 10.03 degrees Celsius. This figure was even higher than the previous all-time high of 9.88 degrees Celsius in 2014.


Although it is an arbitrary number, the UK surpassing an average temperature of 10 degrees Celsius annually is a notable moment in climatological history. This moment also does not come as a surprise, since 1884 all the 10 years recording the highest annual temperature have happened from 2003, said Dr Mark McCarthy, head, Met Office National Climate Information Centre.

McCarthy also said that it is clear from the observational record that human-induced global warming is affecting the climate of the UK.



Not just this, 15 of the top 20 warmest years on record of the UK have occurred in this century only. The entire top 10 years were witnessed within the last two decades.

In 2022, England saw the highest average temperature of 10.94 degrees Celsius, Northern Ireland (9.85 degrees Celsius), Scotland (8.50 degrees Celsius), and Wales (10.23 degrees Celsius).

In June 2022, the UK experienced a spell of heatwaves. This ensured the nation experienced its fourth warmest summer on record. At that time, temperature crossed the 40 degrees Celsius mark for the first time. The development had also forced the Met Office to give its first-ever red warning for extreme heat.

At Coningsby in Lincolnshire, the record temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius was witnessed on July 19.

FAQs

1. What is the highest temperature ever recorded and when?
   56.7°C (134°F) on July 10, 1913
2. Which is the hottest place on Earth?
   Lut Desert in Iran