Britain’s record-breaking summer of 2025 is drawing to a soggy close as the Met Office confirms it will “almost certainly” be the warmest since records began in 1884, whilst warning of a “wet and windy” start to autumn just as millions of pupils prepare to return to school.
The UK recorded an average temperature of 16.13°C from 1 June to 25 August, surpassing the previous record of 15.76°C set in 2018, according to provisional statistics released by the Met Office on Tuesday. Unless temperatures plummet by an unprecedented four degrees below average in the final days of August, 2025 will officially claim the title.
“Of course, there are still a few days left of meteorological summer to go but it’s very unlikely anything will stop summer 2025 from being the warmest on record,” said Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle. The achievement means all of the UK’s top five warmest summers have occurred since the year 2000, underscoring the impact of climate change.
The exceptional warmth follows a summer that saw four separate heatwaves sweep across the country, with temperatures exceeding 30°C on each occasion. The highest temperature recorded was 35.8°C in Faversham, Kent, well below the all-time UK record of 40.3°C set in 2022. Temperatures peaked above 32°C on nine days during summer 2025, compared to 16 days during the legendary summer of 1976.
What’s striking is the consistency of the warmth,” Carlisle explained, noting that June and July were both well above average, with England recording its warmest June on record at 16.9°C. “This persistent warmth is driven by a combination of factors including dry ground from spring, high-pressure systems, and unusually warm seas around the UK.”
The balmy conditions are set to become a distant memory as children across England and Wales prepare to return to classrooms next week. Most state schools will welcome pupils back on Monday, 1 September, though some may delay until Tuesday due to teacher training days. Scottish pupils have already returned to school in mid-August, whilst Northern Ireland students headed back at the end of last month.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Steve Willington warned parents to pack umbrellas rather than sunhats for the school run. “A westerly regime is now in charge of the UK’s weather and will help fuel periods of wet and windy weather over the next few days, with showers and some longer spells of rain likely for much of the UK on Thursday and Friday,” he said.
The forecast paints a decidedly autumnal picture for the weekend, with Deputy Chief Meteorologist David Oliver warning of particularly challenging conditions. “A deep area of low pressure will develop close to the UK on Saturday and track northeast over the weekend, bringing wet and windy weather for many,” Oliver explained.
“While the exact track and depth of the system is still a little uncertain, at present it looks likely that we’ll see gusts in excess of 50mph in some areas during Saturday and Sunday, especially across coasts, headlands and high ground.”
Rainfall totals of 10-20mm are expected across many regions, with higher amounts likely over western hills. The Met Office is monitoring the situation closely and may issue weather warnings for the weekend.
The dramatic shift in weather patterns is being driven by what meteorologists term a “flabby low” – a less well-defined area of low pressure with weaker winds and less distinct frontal systems. “It acts almost as a blocking low, repeatedly drawing in new weather systems from the Atlantic,” the Met Office explained in its latest analysis.
Looking ahead to the start of autumn, the Met Office sees “no signal for a return to high pressure, another heatwave, or a prolonged dry spell in the near future.” Western areas, in particular, are likely to experience wetter-than-average weather as frontal systems and showers continue to move in from the Atlantic.
The record-breaking summer has been particularly notable for its lack of rainfall, with only 72% of the typical amount falling by 25 August, well below the 93% that should have been measured by this point. This follows England’s second driest spring since rainfall records began in 1836.
Climate change continues to play a significant role in the UK’s warming trend, with temperatures rising at approximately 0.25°C per decade. The consistency of above-average temperatures throughout summer 2025 has created conditions where “heat builds quickly and lingers,” according to the Met Office.
Industry experts are already warning about the potential impact on the upcoming autumn school term. “Parents should prepare for a return to more typical British weather,” said a spokesperson for the National Education Union. “After such a warm summer, the adjustment to cooler, wetter conditions might be challenging for some pupils.”
The Met Office advises people to stay updated with the latest forecasts and potential weather warnings as the unsettled conditions persist into next week. “Changeable and at times unsettled weather is likely across the UK next week,” officials confirmed. “Showers or some longer spells of rain are likely with the influence of low pressure never too far away.”
As meteorological summer officially ends on Sunday, 31 August, Britain can reflect on a season that has rewritten the record books. Whether the autumn brings relief from the heat or disappointment at summer’s end, one thing is certain – the weather conversation at the school gates will have plenty to discuss.
Full statistics for summer 2025 will be published by the Met Office on Monday, 1 September.
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