2023 was second hottest year on record for UK

UK experienced its second-warmest year on record in 2023, with both Wales and Northern Ireland having their respective hottest years in a series from 1884, according to provisional data from the Met Office, reports Reuters

According to the UK Met Office, last year’s mean temperature was 9.97 degrees Celsius, which was just below 2022’s 10.03 C, but 2023’s mean temperature was ahead of 2014’s 9.88 C.

The weather forecaster stated that the UK’s 10 warmest years have all occurred in the 21st century and additional temperature records are expected to be broken in the upcoming years.

Warmer temperatures could increase the risk of drought and wildfires, rainfall, and flooding, harming ecosystems, human health, and infrastructure like airport runways and railway tracks.

The climate warming comes amid global temperature records likely broken last year. The EU Climate Service in October said 2023 was on track to be the world’s warmest year since at least 1940.

Scientists say it isn’t enough to limit global warming below a 1.5 C benchmark target, although an agreement reached last month’s COP28 summit in Dubai for the world to transition away from fossil fuels.

Scientists say a sustained rise beyond that target would trigger catastrophic and irreversible impacts– from melting ice sheets to the collapse of ocean currents.

The Met Office said heatwaves in June and September last year in the UK, as well as above-average temperatures for eight out of 12 months, contributed to the record.

Wales and Northern Ireland recorded last year as their warmest year, it added.

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