The UK has experienced its hottest June on record, according to the Met Office. With an average monthly temperature of 15.8°C, surpassing the previous highest average temperatures in 1940

and 1976 by 0.9°C, this milestone confirms the impact of climate change on the country's weather patterns.

Temperature records were broken in 72 out of 97 areas across the UK where data is collected. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all observed their warmest June since the Met Office began recording data in 1884.

Mark McCarthy, the Climate Science Manager at the Met Office, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, "It's officially the hottest June on record for the UK, for mean temperature as well as average maximum and minimum temperature." Paul Davies, the Met Office Climate Extremes Principal Fellow and Chief Meteorologist, emphasized that the sustained heat throughout the day and night sets this year apart from previous ones, as last month experienced a prolonged period of high temperatures.

Additionally, June saw significantly below-average rainfall, with only 68% of the typical June precipitation. Wales, in particular, suffered from dry conditions, receiving just over half of its usual monthly rainfall.

The Met Office utilized advanced computer analysis to investigate the link between these temperatures and climate change. Their findings revealed that the likelihood of surpassing the 1940/1976 record doubled due to both natural variability and the warming of the Earth's atmosphere caused by human-induced climate change.

The consequences of the scorching temperatures extended beyond records, affecting wildlife and the environment. Wildlife organizations warned of fish deaths and wilting flowering plants, emphasizing the strain placed on nature by relentless extreme weather events.

Dr. Richard Hodgkins, a senior lecturer in physical geography at the University of Loughborough, noted that the prolonged heatwave aligns with expectations of a changing climate in the UK. This unusual weather pattern, characterized by a prolonged period of hot weather, may become more common as climate change intensifies.

The unprecedented heatwave serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Without swift action, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are projected to worsen, further impacting the environment and society as a whole. Photo by Stephen Craven, Wikimedia commons.