UK Experiences Sunniest Spring on Record with 630 Hours of Sunshine

The UK has had its sunniest spring ever since records started, based on a report by the Met Office. The nation received 630 hours of sunshine from 1 March to 27 May 2025, which is four more than the previous record of 2020. This is the sunniest spring ever in the UK since 1910 and represents a shift in weather that is continuing.

Although famous for frequent rain, the UK had prolonged durations of dry, sunny weather throughout spring, and there were above-average temperatures throughout a great deal of the country. Although the last few days of May will see more unsettled weather, the initial findings already establish a notable climatic landmark.

The spring season also saw a mix of other significant weather events. The nation experienced its record-breaking hottest-ever May Day with temperatures hitting 29.3°C. April 2025 was also the sunniest April on record. On the other hand, England had seen its driest spring start in 69 years, with statistics from the Environment Agency revealing that little rain had fallen in the region. The dry spells have also sparked fears of drought as well as the effect on agriculture, with some farmers concerned about crop yields due to lesser rainfall.

Reservoir levels have dropped significantly, prompting the Environment Agency to call in a national drought team last month. The team has been monitoring water supplies in the wake of what it terms "exceptionally low" levels in different regions.

Statistically, seven of the last ten sunniest springs in the UK took place after the year 2000, a trend of increasingly frequent sunshine and dry springs. In contrast, the nation had just 377 hours of sunshine in spring 2024, which was one of the dullest springs ever.

Climate researchers keep emphasizing that this kind of unstable and variable weather is on the increase. Rising global temperatures fueled by expanding releases of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels are blamed for such variability in weather conditions.

The Met Office shall publish additional data on spring temperature averages and rainfall during the week. The more frequent extreme weather events in the UK make long-term environmental stability and water resource challenges ongoing concerns among researchers and policymakers.

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Adapted from AFP